In Vancouver, a Revamped 1970s Home by Architect James K.M. Cheng Lists for $3 Million

Before the award-winning James K.M. Cheng became the architectural mind behind Vancouver, British Columbia’s shimmering skyline—think the Shangri-La hotel and the Fairmont Pacific Rim—he was crafting something far more intimate among the evergreens of North Vancouver. Tucked between two creeks in the Delbrook neighborhood, Cheng’s 1975 creation, now known as the Peninsula House, was his quiet rebellion against excess. Minimalist, cedar-wrapped, and infused with the spirit of modernist master Louis Kahn, it was built for a style-savvy family from Hong Kong and stands today as a rare residential piece from a man who would go on to design cities in glass. 

Nearly five decades later, Cheng’s early experiment has been meticulously revived, and, as part of West Coast Modern’s “Remastered Classics” series, the Peninsula House has returned, better than ever, and with its original soul fully intact.

The Peninsula House’s latest chapter comes courtesy of its current owner, an award-winning film producer and an advertising executive. Listed at just under $4.3 million CAD (about $3 million), the 3,550-square-foot home spans three levels and is decked out with cedar, concrete, and glass. The structure remains true to Cheng’s original vision, while the finishes have been thoughtfully updated.

Recognized in 1977 by the Architectural Record as a “Record House,” the home is both a time capsule and a blueprint. You’ll see the early gestures that would later define Cheng’s skyscrapers, in particular the clean lines and grand voids. Bridges that float over double-height volumes make the six-bedroom, four-bath spread feel like a meditative retreat. And the setting? Pure storybook. With a 9,600-square-foot lot hugging nearly half an acre of protected parkland, the home is guarded by two creeks and a wall of evergreens.

Cheng’s journey from Hong Kong to architectural acclaim kicked things off at the University of Washington in 1970 before heading to Harvard in ’78, where he studied under visionary Richard Meier. Fresh out of undergrad, he landed a coveted spot apprenticing with the legendary Arthur Erickson. There, he worked alongside Bing Thom on the team behind Vancouver’s iconic Robson Square. Cheng’s breakout moment came with a bold win: an open design competition for the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver.  

Peninsula House isn’t West Coast Modern’s first rodeo. The firm has a knack for matchmaking significant homes with design-literate buyers. Their track record includes the Arthur Erickson-designed Starship House (which set a record for historic homes on a per-square-foot basis) and the award-winning Eaves House by McLeod Bovell, which recently fetched $12.1 million.