An Unique Outdoor Amenity Space on Cultus Lake

The Story

The client, Owner of Woodtone and long time resident of Chilliwack, commissioned the design of a highly unique condo experience on the shore of Cultus Lake, BC. Part of what would make this development so unique is the desire to provide an unforgettable waterfront living experience through the addition of boat slips and an Amenity Dock for the condo owners to use. This addition would give the look and feel of resort living from the comfort of home. The client has a lifetime of memories raising his family at the lake, so he desired this development to be a place for others to create their own memories.

The Vision

The project needed to look like it an extension of the condo building it belonged to and cater to the desires of relaxation and enjoyment. The intent was to have a space for gathering, suntanning, and shade during those warm summer days. The space also needed to include storage for lounge chairs, fixtures, bistro tables, cushions, and recreational elements.

The Response

To answer the need of the vision, the platform was divided into four active sections: a covered bbq area with with a communal table, a sunbathing lounge space, a seating area under a pergola, and a gathering space centered around a firepit. Flanking the covered area is the storage spaces to help provide a sense of enclosure and protection for the users but also give way to experiential sequencing - a sense of procession from the access point. The spaces were informed, organized, and designed based on the orientation of the dock and its relationship to the year-round sun path. This ensured sun exposure where and when it was desired throughout the day and year. The form of the covered space and the materiality was selected to pay homage to the condo building and the area vernacular. I worked closely with the Dock engineer to ensure the space and its functions were understood and technically designed to ensure all-season use and access.