Vineyards surround the house from this view looking north towards Peachland and Kelowna.

Three Mile Outlook: A Pavilion on the Bench

Settling on the Silt Situated on a sun-drenched silt bluff above Three Mile Beach, this vineyard residence represents a distinct typological response to the Okanagan’s agricultural "Bench." Unlike the steep, rocky hillsides that demand a hovering response, the flat, exposed terrain of the benchlands calls for architecture that settles, shelters, and anchors. The design does not perch precariously; it establishes a firm, low-slung relationship with the horizon.

Modern house by the water at dusk, with mountain backdrop, lit windows, and landscaped front yard.
A sketch of the concept behind the house design

Bedroom and Entry Spaces ‘slide’ under the roof.

When the blocks come together they create interesting spaces between them.

Intimate outdoor spaces are created between the bedroom ‘blocks’.

From the south patio, the pool seems to extend right into the lake.

A Village of Volumes Rather than imposing a single monolithic block, the plan is deconstructed into three distinct volumes. This strategy breaks down the scale of the residence, echoing the clustered vernacular of the region's agricultural outbuildings. Crucially, this separation creates a series of functional "interstitial" spaces—intimate, wind-protected courtyards tucked between the bedroom wings. On a site exposed to the open lake, these microclimates provide essential refuge, allowing the inhabitants to migrate from the expansive pool deck to these sheltered gardens depending on the wind and sun.

The corten entry box slides between indoors and out.
The weathered steel cladding is used indoors and out.
The kitchen is turned to the view, while the dining and living rooms are omnidirectional.

The Protective Hat Dominating the profile is a broad, asymmetrical hip roof that acts as a unifying "hat" for the pavilion. In the semi-arid heat of the valley, the primary duty of the architecture is to produce shade. The deep, timber-lined overhangs function as a passive solar engine: they completely shade the floor-to-ceiling glass in the summer to prevent overheating, while admitting the lower winter sun to warm the thermal mass of the floors. This canopy creates a seamless "porch" condition, extending the living space well beyond the building envelope.

The entry box, clad entirely in weathered steel, is an instrument of procession as one moves from outdoors to the glass clad pavilion.

Earth and Steel While the roof appears to float, the house is grounded by a deliberate duality in its material palette. The primary volumes are rendered in a pale, matte stucco that echoes the "blonde" tones of the silt bluff below, allowing the mass of the home to recede visually into the landscape. Against this neutral backdrop, the central service core is clad in weathering steel (Corten). This element penetrates the building, marking the thresholds of entry and hearth. Its deep, oxidized patina does not try to mimic the earth; instead, it offers a vibrant, tactile counterpoint, bringing a necessary warmth to the interior and referencing the rusted patina of the valley’s agricultural history.

Perched above the silt bluffs, Three Mile Outlook embodies both refuge and outlook.

Three Mile Outlook balances the desire for panoramic views with the necessity of enclosure. By clustering the mass, extending the roof, and anchoring the form with earth-toned materials, the architecture moves beyond the simple glass box to create a home that is deeply rooted in the geology and climate of the Bench.