Modern Daniel White Home in Saanich, BC, Canada

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This Saanich home, designed by Daniel Evan White, is organized in steps on a forested slope, and several exterior decks continue the stepped progression providing an entertaining BBQ area; a pool with adjoining changing room and steam/shower; separate guest or caretaker quarters; as well as coastline decks that offer a variety of transitional daylight and shade opportunities to enjoy both White's remarkable creation and one of Victoria's finest coastlines.

White was never called a “Starchitect” because he designed homes rather than public buildings, but he was both prolific and masterful at what he did. As recognition of his work, the Museum of Vancouver even exhibited a retrospective of him in 2013.

Inspiration is said to have gone both ways between White and his mentor and colleague, Arthur Erickson. Erickson did get called a ‘Starchitect’.

It’s clear that both had been inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s earlier work. This home, at 530 Salmon Rd., displays strong connections to nature throughout, with plenty of windows and natural material choices in addition to its strong, linear modernism.

An open air courtyard makes it hard to say whether the house lets nature in, or whether nature lets the house in.

Curved skylights look a little dated now, but in 1974, when the house was first conceived, they were a cutting-edge way to expand the view and let in more natural light.