1301 Sunset Rd., Bowen Island, B.C.
Asking Price: $1,998,000
Taxes: $7,236.24
Lot size: 2.5 acres
Agent: Jesse Olivier, Engel & Völkers Vancouver
The backstory
The home at 1301 Sunset Rd. faces west toward the Gulf Islands.Prime Focus Pictures
Jan Willem never imagined himself living on an island. But in 2004, his daughter had plans to study at the Vancouver Film School, and he and his wife found themselves flying from the Netherlands, where they lived, to the west coast of B.C. with the idea of purchasing a second home. Mr. Willem’s wife was intrigued by the idea of living on an island, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. They toured several before making the trip to Bowen Island, a 20-minute ferry ride from West Vancouver, where they came across an empty lot for sale.
“We came all the way up to this nice high view. It’s about 250 metres high above sea level. And we were standing there overlooking the sea and the scenery, and she said, ‘Oh my God, this is great!’” recalls Mr. Willem. They submitted an offer the next day.
Contemporary house with an interior courtyard embraces the nature around it
Mr. Willem and his wife have spent between four and six months of the year at the Bowen Island house ever since, but now, approaching their 80s, the couple finds the logistics of dividing their time between two homes too challenging. “It’s a pain in my heart,” says Mr. Willem, about the decision to place the home on the market.
The house today
Architect Allan Peters travelled to the Netherlands to learn about green roofs, which were uncommon in North America at the time.Prime Focus Pictures
Mr. Willem and his wife tapped architect Allan Peters, who also lived in Bowen Island, to design the house. They knew they wanted a compact home that blended into the landscape and had a “living,” or green roof, an uncommon feature in North American buildings at the time. Mr. Peters travelled to the Netherlands, where green roofs were more popular, to learn about them. Not only does it help the building almost disappear into the hillside from certain angles, but the green roof absorbs rainfall and keeps the home cool in the summer and insulated in the winter, explains Mr. Willem, a mechanical engineer by trade. “We have dinner on the roof sometimes,” he says.
A long reno that started with replacing a ‘sad-looking’ garden shed
Inside, the open-concept kitchen and living area is marked by exposed beams and refinished maple floors for a warm, natural feel. Mr. Willem, an avid cook, spent extra time designing the kitchen with Mr. Peters. It features a bank of west-facing windows, marble countertops in a striking ochre-coloured finish, and a functional layout for both cooking and socializing with guests. “I’m very satisfied with how the kitchen was built,” says Mr. Willem.
Homeowner Jan Willem spent extra time designing the kitchen with Mr. Peters.Prime Focus Pictures
Another non-negotiable feature in the house was an oversized fireplace, which Mr. Willem was determined to frame with weathered steel from a decommissioned cargo ship. “If you have a ship that is made out of steel, the steel with salt water starts corroding,” he says. “Then you get little dimples in it because there are different crystals in steel.” They eventually sourced some suitable pieces from an industrial site in Squamish, which they lugged back to Bowen Island. “It looks almost like leather,” says Mr. Willem. “It’s special.”
Mr. Willem was determined to frame the oversized fireplace with steel from a decommissioned cargo ship.Prime Focus Pictures
Mr. Willem and his wife also requested two oversized bedrooms, both of which have walkout decks and ensuite bathrooms. A flexible space on the top floor could be used as a third bedroom, a den, or an art studio.
The property’s living roof and naturalized landscaping also mean less time spent gardening and more time swimming at the beach (just a kilometre away), wandering pathways along the sea, or spending time in the tight-knit, arts-oriented community of Bowen Island, which has a population of approximately 4,200. “It’s very nice and quiet. No noises of traffic,” says Mr. Willem, who was part of a painting group and crafted bronze sculptures during his time on the island.
The best feature
A view from the Bowen Island, B.C., house.Prime Focus Pictures
For Mr. Willem, it’s the views from 1301 Sunset Rd. he’ll miss the most. The home faces west toward the Gulf Islands, rather than toward the mainland, which makes it quieter. It also lends itself to dramatic sunsets.
When he and his wife were working on the home’s initial design with Mr. Peters, he knew they wanted oversized windows in every room to capture the breathtaking coastal views.
“You’re looking through the house, and you have the wide view of the sea, looking towards Texada Island and the Sunshine Coast,” he says. “You feel, well, like heaven.”