Listing of the Day
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Price: C$16.58 million (US$12.6 million)
Susan Shen bought a hillside lot in West Vancouver about seven years ago with a plan to tear down the existing structure and build a far more lavish house overlooking the ocean, which she could then resell. In a collaborative effort over the last three years, developers at the Lexi Group have helped her do just that.
Construction of the 6,220-square-foot house finished earlier this year and cost about $5 million, Ms. Shen told Mansion Global in an email interview.
Ms. Shen, who is from Chongqing, China, moved in with her three children in February but is now ready for the next occupant to enjoy what she calls her "rainbow villa," a reference to the prism-like effect of sunlight pouring through the home’s diamond-shaped skylights.
"This was her first project and she had a tremendous time doing it, really enjoyed it, and she's ready to sell and get on to the next project," said listing agent Dan Wurtele, of Oakwyn Realty.
Vancouver is "still emerging as a globally recognized city," and that helps put luxury real estate in the spotlight, he said. "This home kind of epitomizes all of that," Mr. Wurtele said. "It's luxury, it’s high-end, it caters to an international market, and it is very much the quintessential Pacific Northwest with those views and access to the water, really encompassing everything it can about its environment."
Nearly every room—16 of a total 19—has ocean views, including four of the five bedrooms and the indoor sauna.
One bedroom includes a Japanese soaker tub surrounded by glass, providing views of both the fireplace and the ocean.
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Stats
The house has five bedrooms, six full bathrooms and one powder room.
The home was designed for a family, Mr. Wurtele said, and a fifth bedroom downstairs could be a nanny suite.
Amenities
The property has more than 3,000 square feet of outdoor space, including six balconies, a sauna, an outdoor infinity-edge hot tub that pours into the pool, a barbecue deck and gas fire pit. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors provide access to the outdoors from every floor.
Upscale Gaggenau kitchen appliances from Germany include a wine fridge, espresso machine, gas ranges and ovens. There’s also a wok kitchen, or a secondary kitchen, separate from the main dining area.
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A three-story glass elevator offers sweeping views as residents ascend from the lower level to the top floor, which is at street level.
The bottom floor is geared toward entertainment and relaxation, with a wet bar that overlooks a theater room outfitted with a large projection screen. A transparent 90-bottle wine rack provides a chic divider between the theater room and a game room.
The house also has a built-in surround sound system.
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Design Pedigree
The Vancouver-based Lexi Group designed and constructed the house over three years, which included 10 months of excavation, rock-blasting and site preparation, said Baha Naemi, the firm’s executive chairman and co-founder.
Mr. Naemi said he and his team wanted to make an "ultra contemporary" architectural statement while working within the physical confines of the 14,391-square-foot hillside lot. The house is built into the hillside with only the top floor visible from the street. The bifold "butterfly-shaped" roof and elaborate skylights are among the most unique features, Naemi said.
The interior design features wall-to-wall Italian marble floors and contrasting swathes of glossy rosewood cabinetry. The kitchen cabinets, an office area, a wet bar, a walk-in closet in the master bedroom and the master bathroom all feature rosewood imported from India.
By day, the space is light and airy; by night, indoor LED backlighting and exterior perimeter lighting create a futuristic glow.
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Neighborhood Notes
From the main balcony, 180-degree views of Caulfield Park are visible, as well as the ocean and downtown Vancouver, with Mount Baker in the background. There is easy access to the park and to Stearman Beach.
Agents: Dan Wurtele and Susan Zhang, Oakwyn Realty, in partnership with the Virani Group.
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