property watch: clifftop squamish home is like living in a luxury tree fort
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touted as a “luxury tree fort on a cliff’s edge”, this ocean- and mountain-view squamish property built into solid granite high above the squamish and mamquam valleys certainly feels like an exclusive hideout. but with five bedrooms, four bathrooms and more than 3,500 square feet of living space, it has a lot more room than your typical playhouse up a pine tree. and it’s not just for kids.
built in 1960, the home underwent a major renovation in 1975, then again in 2022 when current owner lindsay mcivor and her husband purchased the property. “i could see the potential of the home,” says mcivor. “and the land is so special. you get views you don’t get anywhere else in squamish. we have windows in every direction and we’re not concerned about privacy. it really does feel like a tree fort.”
mcivor and her husband hired skladan architecture to completely rebuild the house right down to the framing. annaliesse kelly, founder and creative director of ak design, led the redesign to enhance the home’s modern mountain esthetic while maintaining its strong connection to the natural landscape.
the home’s interior stairs were built on top of exposed granite.
supplied / stilhavn real estate
built in 1960, the home underwent a major renovation in 1975, then again in 2022.
supplied / stilhavn real estate
“we had to respect the character and soul of the architecture, and honour the era it was designed in,” says mcivor. “i would call it traditional architecture with a bit of mid-century twist in terms of the way we placed the windows, which are off centre and to the side. the interior finishings have that colour that you find in more of a mid-century home. it was kind of an ode to the 1960s character of the home.”
mcivor says that, because the house is situated on top of granite, the original builders had to do a massive amount of blasting. “that kind of blasting is so expensive to do now. the concrete of the house was (attached) directly to the granite. it’s really on there.”
and in there: the interior stairs were built on top of exposed granite, a nod to the nearby stawamus chief mountain, and a room that is used as a gym is “basically underground,” says mcivor. “the concrete wall is up against granite. i joke that it could double as a bomb shelter.”
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that melding of concrete with natural granite is what impressed jenna franze, personal real estate corporation at stilhavn real estate services, who’s handling the sale of the property. “what really stood out to me was the craftsmanship in the concrete work around the exterior and entryway,” she says. “the way the design integrates the natural rock formations into the home itself is truly impressive.”
annaliesse kelly, of ak design, led the redesign to enhance the home’s modern mountain esthetic while maintaining its strong connection to the natural landscape.
supplied / stilhavn real estate
the expanded deck space also takes advantage of the views.
supplied / stilhavn real estate
valley views
the abundance of natural light that streams in through the many, well-placed windows that look out onto the stawamus chief and mamquam mountains, combined with the lofty, 12-foot high cathedral ceilings of the main living area, further add to the tree fort feel of the home.
the expanded deck space also takes advantage of the views. “it has a nice indoor-outdoor flow when the weather is decent,” says mcivor. “we maximized the deck space because of that.”
she says she also admired the original gardens that cover the half-acre lot. “the former owner had planted a beautiful garden, nothing like i had seen in squamish. there are such a variety of species of trees and perennials and annuals like what you would see in victoria or vancouver.”
kitchen and bathrooms
the kitchen features a stylish island and high-end thermador appliances, including a push-to-open, integrated fridge and freezer.
supplied / stilhavn real estate
the kitchen, remodelled by squamish company solo designs, features high-end thermador appliances, including a push-to-open, integrated fridge and freezer, and a built-in coffee maker that can be concealed behind custom cabinetry. the large quartz island serves as a stylish centrepiece for food prep or entertaining. engineered hardwood oak spans the home, with white oak in the kitchen, living room and book shelving.
the spa-like ensuite bathroom features a soaker tub, heated floors, integrated led lighting, and one of three skylights found throughout the home.
garage and mud room
the newly added double-car garage, with extra storage space for activity gear, also has ev charging capability. the garage leads directly into a spacious mud room which, says mcivor, “has good flow from the garage into a fully equipped mud room. everything you need is in there — laundry, utility space, extra storage. you can come home dirty from your mountain bike ride, take off your gear, (and hit the) shower in the bathroom down the hall.”
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mcivor says she and her husband designed the home to reflect who they are: an active squamish family. “it really is a dream family home that’s not so big that you don’t ever see your kids. it doesn’t feel industrial or cavernous; it’s got a lot of character and cosiness.”
the northridge neighbourhood is close to shops, restaurants and other amenities across the sea to sky highway, and is within walking distance of five schools. “that’s been important to me, especially when we had little kids,” says mcivor. “we value the ability to bike and walk everywhere.”
location:
listed for: $4,199,000
year built: 1960
type: five bedrooms, four bathrooms
size: living area, 3,588 sq ft; deck/patio space, 989 sq ft
realtor: jenna franze, personal real estate corporation, stilhavn real estate services
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