FRENCH REVIVAL
5583 JAPAVARIAN

2025  |  VANCOUVER, BC  |  PERMITING

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This Shaughnessy family compound brings together two distinct architectural stories on one site; the restoration of a 1936 French Revival character house and the creation of a new Japavarian infill home rooted in contemporary spatial philosophy. Designed for three generations living together on the same property, the project balances heritage conservation with modern family needs, creating a unified environment where architecture, landscape, and daily life are deeply intertwined.

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At the front of the site, the original 1936 French Revival residence has been carefully restored to its prewar elegance. We refined its massing, restored its symmetry, and re-established the clarity of its French Eclectic detailing, allowing the historic architecture to speak with confidence again. The upper two floors form a spacious home for the first family, while the garden level provides a fully self-contained suite for the parents. A shared outdoor patio connects the two households, reinforcing the project’s central commitment to multigenerational living and aging in place with dignity.

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Set quietly at the rear of the property, the new infill home expresses our Japavarian design language; a fusion of Japanese spatial philosophy, Scandinavian simplicity, and Bavarian warmth. At its heart is a recessed Japanese garden carved out as a calm inner courtyard, acting as the still centre around which the entire plan is organized. Split levels rise and fall in response to this garden, creating a gentle, spiraling motion through the home and ensuring that light, views, and circulation remain continuously tied to nature. The exterior form is intentionally layered and adaptive, giving the sense of a home that has grown over time while discreetly accommodating the family’s request for generous parking and outdoor functionality.

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Together, the restored character house and the new infill create a complete multigenerational compound that respects the architectural history of Shaughnessy while introducing a thoughtful, contemporary counterpoint. The project demonstrates how heritage conservation and modern infill can coexist in a way that feels intentional, serene, and deeply personal—supporting family life across generations while enriching the architectural fabric of the neighbourhood.

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As featured on the Globe and Mail