_ The Beaty house was inspired by the wild ocean views, a grove of arbutus trees and the spectacular undulating granite shoreline. Design of this 4000 square foot residence began in 2005 with construction starting in the fall of 2008 and completion in 2011.
The house is situated on the main promontory of a one hundred acre forested site. The natural bedrock rise has a ravine that accommodates the lower floor guest rooms with the main floor positioned around the exposed rock high points and the upper floor reading nook and study spaces taking in the 360 degree views.
Fitness to the site with an appreciation for the outlook in all directions, energy efficiency, healthy indoor air quality, and use of local natural materials were all priorities. The structural elements are Douglas Fir timber. Walls are faced with granite produced from the excavation and the mill-work incorporates dead-fall Arbutus from the site. The significant challenge for construction was to preserve the Arbutus grove that separates the house site on the exposed bedrock at the waterfront from the constricted driveway access. A thirty meter long curved timber bridge provides the winding connection through the trees.
The geothermal ocean loop heating system, energy efficient air-tight envelope with heat recovery ventilation all contribute to a high level of energy conservation. Strength and stability of large glazed doors is achieved through the use of solid vertical grain fir faces, laminated over an engineered wood core. Solid vertical grain fir window frames allow for some window units over 16 feet tall. ‘Lift and slide’ hardware provides a high degree of air and weather tightness which is very important on this exposed site. Low E glazing is utilized for energy efficiency and control of heat gain. Even though there is very significant sun exposure, the large overhangs, natural ventilation combined with heat storage in the significant thermal mass, make air conditioning unnecessary. Indoor air quality is achieved through the integration of a ventilation system, the careful selection of all natural products and the use of low VOC finishes.