Nestled high up in a wooded ravine this 1960’s era bungalow was given a new life through a series of careful additions and subtractions to the overall building form. Commissioned as a family home for a local couple, the house was designed to balance the need for a space that’s comfortable and intimate for the family yet flexible and inviting for extended family and friends. The house slowly reveals itself as you approach from the long meandering driveway. A new boardwalk linking the driveway to the front door frames a modern, minimal outdoor courtyard for informal gatherings and outdoor dining, while also offering visitors a new vantage point to enjoy the ravine below. At the centre of the ground floor plan; the kitchen, dining area and family room form one large, bright, flexible living space suitable for the family’s daily routine and the entertaining of guests. Adjacent to this space are two quiet zones each containing the family bedrooms. The two secondary bedrooms sit in a dedicated wing to the right of the main living space, accessible through a discreet door set between the front entry and main stair. The primary bedroom is tucked behind the family room fireplace to the left of the main living space, accessible by a small glazed walkway with views into the ravine. The main staircase sits directly in line with the front door gently stepping down to a mid landing and continuing through to the lower level. The second stair is a narrow, folded steel plate, climbing briskly up to the roof top level. Here a covered deck that includes a wood burning fireplace provides the homeowners with outdoor all-season amenity space offering a ‘treehouse’ perspective over the ravine below. At the lower level an existing indoor pool room was demolished and exterior walls removed to create a covered year-round deck area with a hot tub open to the elements, effectively creating a physical connection to the outdoors at the forest floor. The interior showcases a crisp material palette with exterior materials seamlessly transitioning between inside and out. Simple and consistent detailing, rich textured finishes and warm complimentary tones in the millwork, furniture and artwork combine to modernize the home and create a welcoming and inviting feel throughout. The renovations involved removing portions of exterior walls. The existing bricks were carefully collected, cleaned and re-laid as needed thereby reducing material waste. The newly tinted existing brick was paired with shou sugi ban wood siding. This siding, vertically set, charred and brushed to reveal the beautiful natural grain was seen as a compliment to the tall, dark, quiet nature of the ravine trees surrounding the dwelling.