Catton House [1967]

Canadian architect and urban planner Arthur Erickson became well known for sizeable civic works, coupled with an idiosyncratic portfolio of houses (many of which were designed with longtime collaborator Geoffrey Massey) that tackle difficult terrain. The Catton House is no exception, comprising a series of horizontal platforms that step with the grade of the slope above the Strait of Georgia, with glazed walls lightly separating spaces. Notably, the Catton House displays an acute understanding of timber with its blend of cedar, oak floors, mahogany doors and cabinets providing a soft palette to place focus on more transient spatial qualities and panoramic vignettes outwards.