Peninsula House
Presenting the Peninsula House, a seminal and unique work of James K.M. Cheng.
A central figure in the development of Vancouver’s crystalline skyline, Cheng’s commission for a young family of fashion professionals from Hong Kong provided the architect an opportunity to explore a west coast modernist idiom while paying tribute to his architectural hero, Louis Kahn.
The Peninsula House, situated within a sunlit forest clearing, overlooks nearly half an acre of city-owned parkland, graced by lush tree canopies and two natural waterways. With a nod to Kahn’s famous Esherick House, Cheng crafted this North Vancouver residence as a series of simple cedar-clad volumes, prioritizing the remarkable spatial and luminous qualities of the interior through clear spatial planning and careful detailing. Awarded Record House status in 1977 by Architectural Record, Peninsula House set the stage for Cheng’s future impact on Vancouver’s waterfront.
Don’t miss the chance to be this iconic residence’s next custodian.
4069 Madeley Rd
North Vancouver, BC
Neighbourhood
Upper Delbrook
Designer
James K.M. Cheng
Designed and Built
1975
Price
$3,125,000
Specification
Louis Kahn-inspired
Program
West Coast Modern
Floors
3 Levels
Rooms
6 Bed 4 Bath
Building
3,775 sqft
Lot
12,095 sqft
Featured In
“The project allowed Cheng to explore the West Coast Modern style while paying tribute to his architectural hero, Louis Kahn...”
– North Shore News, April 15, 2023
“Window-happy forest oasis that is the Peninsula House — respect tradition!”
– Western Living, April 21, 2023
“RESPECT FOR TRADITION”
– Western Living, April 14, 1977
“The plan is simple and unforced. The inherent modesty of the house, its design subtleties and careful detailing notwithstanding...”
– Architectural Record, 1977
James K.M. Cheng
City-Builder: Tour-de-force in Vancouver’s Urban Design Evolution
James K.M. Cheng was born in Hong Kong and educated at the University of Washington’s School of Architecture (B.Arch., 1970) and Harvard (M.Arch., 1978) where he studied under Richard Meier. Upon finishing his undergraduate degree, Cheng apprenticed under Arthur Erickson, working as a junior architect alongside Bing Thom on the core team responsible for the planning of Robson Square.
Cheng established his own firm after winning a breakthrough open design competition for the Chinese Cultural Centre which effectively launched his career in his adopted city. Since then, and like his mentor Arthur Erickson, Cheng has used architecture as an agent for urban design in his public work, at the same time using private house designs to inform his large scale endeavours.
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