Courtyard House

Introduction

Presented by West Coast Modern, the Courtyard House is a rare and early work designed by James K.M. Cheng. It is the precursor to what’s known today as “Vancouverism,” the movement that is influencing urban development throughout the world.

Over the past 30 years, Vancouver has transformed itself from a provincial outpost to a globally renowned metropolis. The change has been physical. Since 1990, more than 150 skyscrapers have been built on the Downtown peninsula and nearly 40 of those towers were designed by James Cheng.

Cheng pioneered a new building configuration where private residential spaces could contain areas for community gathering, the emblem of the urban design movement known as “Vancouverism.” It all started at the Courtyard House in 1974 which was an experiment for Cheng to test these community spaces in residential design.

Following the successful completion of the Courtyard House, Cheng started his own studio where he could apply this newly built form on an international scale. Over his 50-year career, he was commissioned to design Vancouver’s most iconic buildings, including Vancouver’s tallest tower, The Shangri-La, Fairmont Pacific Rim, and Shaw Tower among others, earning him the Order of Canada in 2014 for his role as a “City Builder.”

West Coast Modern invites you to explore where it all started.

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4615 W 7th Ave
West Point Grey
Vancouver, BC

Architect
James K.M. Cheng

Builder
Unknown

Designed and Built
1974

Price
$3,998,000

Specification
U-shaped Courtyard

Program
West Coast Modern

Floors
3 levels

Rooms
3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms + 2 Bedroom Basement Suite

Square Footage
3,222 sq. ft.

Floor plan

“The architect James K.M. Cheng is designing a high-rise paradise by keeping his buildings grounded.”

– Vancouver Magazine

James K.M. Cheng

James K.M. Cheng Architects is a collaborative architecture & urban design practice that prides itself on creating meaningful and dynamic built environments. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the firm is recognized for its pioneering contribution to west coast architecture and city building. Founded by James Cheng in 1978, the 30-person practice has grown to specialize in a variety of scales, with a strong emphasis on the integration of Urban Design, Landscape Design, Architectural Design, and Interior Design.