Case Study
T. Jones Group's Dramatic Transformation of this Mid-Century Modern Southlands Villa
We recently sold this classic mid-century modern inspired villa in the equestrian neighbourhood of Southlands in Vancouver’s West Side. Built in 1957, this 6,600 sq ft mid-century modern home sits on a 1.27-acre lot and underwent a massive renovation by the award-winning T. Jones Group in 2020. T. Jones Group has been building and renovating distinctive homes in Vancouver’s West Side for over 40 years, with a reputation for building quality homes with uncompromising attention to detail.
T. Jones Group drastically transformed this Palm Springs-inspired Villa while upholding its architectural integrity to bring this home into the modern day.
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"Jeffs Residences, on Charles Street just off Commercial Drive] was a large old
house that was built in the 1900's, it happened to be sitting on a large site that was
quite under utilized relative to what you could build on the site ... Under the zoning
on the site you could have demolished everything and built 10 duplexes. But /
looked at it and I thought that first, there was this grand old house that had been
kind of butchered but still retained the essential fabric and form of the original
house, and there was an opportunity here with this under utilized site. I thought
maybe there was an opportunity to add some different forms of housing through a
Heritage Revitalization Agreement which was a policy tool the City had to
encourage Heritage Retention"
We recently sold this classic mid-century modern inspired villa in the equestrian neighbourhood of Southlands in Vancouver’s West Side.
Built in 1957, this 6,600 sq ft mid-century modern home sits on a 1.27-acre lot and underwent a massive renovation by the award-winning T. Jones Group in 2020. T. Jones Group has been building and renovating distinctive homes in Vancouver’s West Side for over 40 years, with a reputation for building quality homes with uncompromising attention to detail.
T. Jones Group drastically transformed this Palm Springs-inspired Villa while upholding its architectural integrity to bring this home into the modern day.
Their exemplary work at this home was recognized by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association's 2021 Georgie Awards, being selected as a Finalist for Best Residential Renovation ($500,000 - $799,999). In order to get this home ready for the market, ICON worked with Sublime Interior Design and artist Ronan Boyle to curate custom art and furniture that complimented the amazing transformation by T. Jones Group.
What is Mid-Century Modern Design?
This home is emulative of the mid-century modern era that spanned from about 1945-1969. Mid-Century Modernism embraces clean lines, raw materials, and a close relationship with nature. This movement towards minimalistic design was a by-product of World War II’s effect on North American Society. The end of the war brought about a shift in societal values towards lifestyle, family, and nature, which is reflected in the design of the time.
In general, mid-century modern buildings can be characterized by these 5 elements. What mid-century modern design principles can you identify in this home?
- Clean Lines and Geometric Shapes — Straight lines and right angles are essential qualities of mid-century modern architecture.
- Floor-to-Ceiling Windows — To bring nature and natural light into the sapce
- Changes in Elevation — Split-level, partial walls, fireplaces centered in rooms, and cabinetry to add depth and variation
- Minimal Decoration — Clean lines and muted colour palettes complement the simple design
- Access to the Outdoors — Connecting with nature is a key value in mid-century modern architecture, so most homes have many access points to the outdoors
Mid-Century Modern Architecture in Vancouver
Vancouver’s unique setting in the Pacific Northwest influenced our own adaptation of Mid-Century Modernism, called “West Coast Modernism”. This adaptation makes use of Vancouver’s abundant local natural resources and incredible landscapes that are specific to the region. Local designers used post-and-beam construction, stepped flat roofs with clerestory windows, and wide expanses of glass that connected interiors with nature and natural light.
Adjacent to this home is the historic Gardner House, a 1958-built designated heritage site
Recognized for its historic and cultural significance and revolutionary design the Gardner residence is another example of West Coast Modernist architecture in Vancouver.
Designed and originally occupied by architect Kenneth Gardner, his work in Vancouver also includes two apartment buildings in the West End: Chilco Towers and Lagoon Terrace.
For more information and to check out other work by T. Jones Group visit their website here.
Further reading on Mid-Century Modern Architecture and sources used to support this blog post:
West Coast Modernism
- Vancouver Heritage Foundation Mid-Century Modern Past Home Tour Resources
- Vancouver Heritage Foundation West Coast Modern House Styles
