See Inside Shigeru Ban's Record-Breaking Canadian Masterpiece

Plans for the record-breaking timber structure were announced in 2016, but the first interior renderings and details of Terrace House were finally released last week. The interiors of the following twenty apartment rooms not only represent Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban’s modern, minimal aesthetic, they also are a testament to the powers of creative collaboration. The developers of the project, PortLiving, have worked closely with Ban over the past two years to make this building a reality.

The interiors show open terraces featuring ambient cove lighting and porcelain tiles, and seamlessly blend in with the white oak wood flooring. The homes on the upper levels feature douglas fir timber, which is harvested locally from the Kootenay region (around 700 kilometers from the site), and reflects a clean, minimalistic palette that absorbs sounds and excludes a sense of warmth.

In our previous interview with PortLiving’s CEO, Macario (Tobi) Reyes discussed the emotional experience of watching this structure come together: “I guess one word [to describe the creative collaboration and working with Ban] would be ‘wow’. It’s a dream come true. [It’s] completely humbling for me to be an audience member and a participant,” he said.

“It’s been a wonderful, ongoing experience to work with Shigeru Ban Architects, and a great reminder of when you have great design, [there’s a tremendous] amount of detail that is required to actually execute that design, at every level. We really need to push the envelope and that requires expertise, but also patience to work together as a team. So yes, it’s been a great honor for me to be involved with all of these folks,” Reyes continued.

Each residence at the Terrace House uses smart home technologies, in-floor heating and cooling that can even extend to the enclosed terraces, and the floor-to-ceiling motorized sliding glass doors offer extensive views of the neighboring mountains, inlet, and cityscape.

More features include, floating white Corian countertops, Thassos marble floors, ceiling heights ranging up to 27 feet, and custom Shigeru Ban-designed millwork.

“Terrace House is the pinnacle of modern development and will stand out among some of the greatest residential buildings in the world,” Reyes said in a recent statement. “Shigeru Ban and his team’s attention to detail is unparalleled and have ensured that each of these homes is truly unique to any other in Vancouver. To further enhance the ownership experience, residents will enjoy a dedicated concierge team, and a plethora of amenities ensuring a best in class lifestyle.”

Prices for the world-renowned timber hybrid structure start at $3 million.