A house between the meadow and the forest
Olson Expert he plans this Daisy Ranch as a long, low house among dense trees and an open meadow. The project is located near its rugged coastline CanadaSalt Spring Island, where exposed rock, cedar forest, and changing weather shape the site’s year-round experience. Developed in close collaboration with the home owner, who also acted as general contractor, the residence it carries an immediacy that emerges in both its construction and its spatial organization.
From a distance, the house reads as two distinct volumes extending along a linear axis. One is defined by a heavy square cut logthe other of glass framed by weathered steel and wood. A deep roof projects well beyond the enclosed spaces, extending outwards into roof terraces and circulation areas while enhancing the building’s horizontal profile against the landscape. The steel siding has already taken on a rust-colored patina that blends with the dry grasses and rocky terrain surrounding the property.
image © Andrew Latreille
enter the margarita ranch
Curating the approach to Daisy Ranch, Olson Kundig places an eastern staircase under the large ledge. From there, a glazed corridor connects the two main sections of the house, creating a short transitional space between the heavier log structure and the more transparent southern volume. THE architects handle this moment with restraint as the space relies on proportion, material weight and framed visuals rather than dramatic gestures.
Inside the main living area, the structure opens to the meadow through extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing. A horizontal wood strip cuts through the glass wall at eye level, subtly scaling the room while drawing attention outwards to the changing vegetation. During summer, the windows face dense greens and filtered sunlight, while, in winter, the same facades are flattened into stark contrasts of dark trunks against pale ground and sky.
large cantilevered roofs extend Daisy Ranch into the landscape of Canada’s Salt Spring Island
Single Living Spaces
Much of Daisy Ranch’s planning is organized around the southern volume, where the kitchen, dining room and living room occupy an uninterrupted open plan. The interiors combine exposed timber with steel detailing and softer domestic elements that keep the home from feeling overly polished. A wood-burning stove sits in the center of the living room next to a circular steel firewood stand designed specifically for the project. Nearby, bubble-shaped glass light fixtures hang from the ceiling beams, while a hanging fabric swing introduces an unexpectedly informal note.
A large mural by a Vancouver-based artist spans part of the floor, bringing color to an otherwise restrained palette of wood, steel and glass. These additions give the home a lived-in quality that feels connected to the client’s routines and interests. The architecture allows these personal layers to remain visible rather than overpowering them with fixed formal statements.
The steel cladding takes on the color of the surrounding rocky terrain
extension of the house outdoors
The long outside deck functions almost as another room under the wide cantilevered roof. Angled steel balustrades like narrow slats create offset spaces that maintain views to the meadow while filtering light across the entire surface of the patio. The overhang provides protection from rain for much of the year, allowing the outdoors to remain active through the seasons.
Built right into the deck is a picnic table designed for large gatherings along with a solid half pipe where the client’s kids can skateboard even in wet weather. These additions speak to how the house was shaped around occupation and movement rather than static presentation. The exteriors feel attuned to the climate and rhythms of the space without becoming over-engineered.
a glazed corridor connects the two main volumes of the house
Private rooms with landscape views
The northern volume contains the bedrooms and master suite behind a more enclosed facade of wood and steel cladding. Openings are selectively placed, framing narrow views to the trees, meadow and distant sky, while maintaining privacy on the approach side of the property. This contrast between open and enclosed gives the home a clear spatial rhythm as occupants move from communal areas to more intimate rooms.
The wood continues throughout the bathrooms, where the warm surfaces soften the sharper edges of the steel details elsewhere in the house. In the master bath, a clawfoot tub placed next to the corner window directs attention back to the landscape. The placement is simple and effective, allowing the changing weather and light of Salt Spring Island to become part of the experience of the interior itself.
square cut logs contrast with expansive glass walls that look out over the meadow
