The District of West Vancouver has received a preliminary Heritage Revitalization Agreement proposal that would restore and protect the heritage house at 1143 Eyremount Drive while adding 10 new infill homes on the site.
Under the proposal, the two parcels at 1143 Eyremount Drive and 1141 Crestline Road would be consolidated into one site. The existing house at 1141 Crestline Road would be demolished, and the heritage house, known as the Forrest-Baker House, would be converted into a shared amenity building for residents of the new homes, according to the District. The added density is intended to make the retention and restoration of the heritage house viable over the long term.
The 10 new homes would each be one storey, arranged like steps down the natural slope of the site, with parking underground, according to the design rationale provided by the developer. The minimalist design is meant to keep the heritage house as the focal point of the site, with clean lines and simple forms that complement rather than overpower it, the rationale says.
The project would include green roofs and green walls to support biodiversity and improve insulation, sustainable materials, and systems designed to use less energy, including passive design strategies for natural ventilation and daylighting, the rationale says.
The Forrest-Baker House was built in 1962 and designed by architect Ron Thom. It won a Massey Medal for Architecture in 1964. The house faced demolition in 2019, when the District issued temporary protection orders while a heritage agreement was pursued.
The applicant is hosting a public consultation meeting on Wednesday, November 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Arts Room on the second floor of the West Vancouver Community Centre at 2121 Marine Drive. The meeting is an open house with no formal presentation. The District notes the meeting is hosted by the applicant, not by the District.
