Dream Home: $2.7 Million for a North Shore Glass House 

Address: 1032 Ridgewood Drive, North Vancouver

Price: $2,695,000

Listing: West Coast Modern

The skinny: Four-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom, 2,059-square-feet home in North Vancouver

The chic: Revel in a marriage between nature and architecture in this one-storey home. The Glass House, as its name implies, is distinguished by its ability to let in an abundance of natural lighting and views of the garden through skylights and expansive windows.

Although this property only has one level, there is a whopping 2,059-square-feet of space in it. Its open floor plan and elegant structural expression makes the space feel elevated and roomier than it actually is!

As one of the first modern houses built in Vancouver, this home offers custodians a taste of history. Architects from Thompson, Berwick, Pratt & Partners helped design this home back in the 50’s, using principles from Ned Pratt’s philosophies. 

According to Pratt, this home has five specific characteristics which are often shared with other residential architecture built in the west coast around that time. These include generous roof overhangs to accommodate rainfall, windows facing natural light to maximize sunshine in the home, having blank walls as facades of the home facing the street to protect privacy, wood cladding throughout the exterior and an open floor plan.  

The most eye-catching design element at the exterior of the property is the floor-to-ceiling windows along the width of the building. The windows and white cladding at the exterior seamlessly flows with the interior design, which features similar white cladding on the ceiling. Window panes are used as walls separating the dining room from the family room, mirroring the windows on the home’s exterior. 

Custodians will be able to enjoy the many skylights across the family room, dining room and kitchen. You’ll be able to beat the gloom even on the rainiest of Vancouver days.

The kitchen design is minimalistic, with black and white colors that complement design elements throughout the home. The streamlined look of the kitchen cabinets allow the simplicity and brightness of the space shine (literally).

The bathrooms all feature upgraded appliances in a similar fashion to the kitchen. Materials like glass and white ceramic are used to keep the space feeling modern and simplistic. 

Head into the bedrooms to find a similar overall aesthetic to the rest of the home – bright, warm and a touch worn in (in the coziest way). The cladding on the ceiling gives off a vintage feel, which contrasts well with modern appliances throughout the home. If you are someone who appreciates spaces that hold onto history as the years pass, you will definitely enjoy this space. 

This property also includes a studio separate from the main home that you can rent out or use as storage, as well as a 281-square-feet carport. There is a small outdoor lounge space by the studio with a love seat. This area is shaded by the main home – perfect for hanging out with your Sunday morning coffee in-hand. 

Just steps away from the home is a Palm Springs-inspired garden, which houses a palm tree and lounge area for guests to enjoy the sunshine on a summer day. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of this compound-like estate, as you enjoy the benefits of both nature and convenience of living in the city.