From do-it-yourselfers in search of design inspiration to local residents looking for architects to work with to community members who simply want to see firsthand the inside of unique homes in their own backyards, the Vancouver Modern Home Tour is back for 2015 and is promising something to suit all interests.
"It's really for everybody and we do that on purpose because we don't want to make it an exclusive event. It's a rare chance and a rare opportunity but it's not exclusive to just one group. We want anybody who wants to do it to be able to go and see this work," says Ken Shallcross, vice-president Modern Home Tours LLC, founded in 2010 and based in Austin, Texas. The company works to introduce modern architecture and living to people across North America and offers home tours in a number of cities across Canada and the United States.
"There really is this desire, people want to see these types of homes that they don't really get to see on an everyday basis unless you live in one," says Shallcross who is based in New York City.
The Vancouver tour has continued to be successful and the third annual edition is being presented this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. "Vancouver is one of the cornerstone tours. That whole Pacific Northwest of Portland, Seattle and Vancouver are some of our favourite places to go because not only are there so many modern homes there and being built, but the modern community, you could say, between the architects and the home owners, people want to show off their designs, people want to show off their homes. There is a high willingness of people to participate," says Shallcross.
This year's tour was co-curated by Anicka Quin, editor-in-chief of Western Living Magazine, and is being held during the publication's Design Week, running Sept. 17-30.
It's featuring seven diverse homes, four of which are on the North Shore, chosen because they exemplify modern architecture and living. Among them is a 1960s Lewis post-and-beam home in West Vancouver that underwent a major renovation by LCI Design.
Two homes on North Vancouver's Sunshine Falls Lane are featured. One of which is the Cliffhanger Residence, designed by Kevin Vallely. The three-level home sits on a 25-foot wide by 100-foot long site that drops nearly 60 feet over its 100-foot length. "The home basically had to be built into the land with that incline in mind. It's a small townhouse but it's right on the water and it's absolutely gorgeous," says Shallcross.
The second home, on Sunshine Falls Lane, was built by Wheeler Developments and designed by Schema Designs.
The final North Shore home is a renovation on Melbourne Avenue in North Vancouver designed by Wexler Architecture.
The three other homes on this year's tour are in Vancouver and include: a West End 1,000 square foot condo; a Kerrisdale laneway house by Lanefab Design/Build; and a University Endowment Lands home designed by Frits de Vries and built by Natural Balance Home Builders.
Shallcross estimates the self-driving tour will take participants approximately four hours.
Once again this year, the Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design, part of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, will serve as the tour's non-profit partner and beneficiary.
New this year is a White Rock Modern Home Tour, being held the following day, Sunday, Sept. 20, also from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and featuring five homes.
Combination tickets are available at a discounted price for those interested in attending both tours.
Third Annual Vancouver Modern Home Tour Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets ($30/$40/Free for children under 12), visit modernhometours.com/event/2015-vancouver-b-c-modern-home-tour.
