When Scott and Tanya relocated from Auckland, New Zealand, to Vancouver, British Columbia, they sought an inviting home with enough space for their family of five. Upon stepping foot into the midcentury Madrona House, originally designed by the architect Barry Downs in 1967, they knew they had found their Canadian Xanadu. “We chose it for its beauty, its style, and its history,” the couple said. “Everything else felt soulless by comparison—this home had character and warmth.”

Still, they thought it needed some updates to make it more livable for the modern age but were sensitive to the property’s history, enlisting the architect Cedric Burgers to modernize it while retaining many of its original details. Burgers even introduced the duo to Downs, who came over for coffee and reviewed the new drawings. Downs, who died in 2022, gave the project his blessing.

Now leaving Vancouver for a work opportunity, the couple are putting the five-bedroom, four-bath spread up for sale at $3.6 million with West Coast Modern. Squirell privately away from the noise of the city in the tony Gleneagles neighborhood and built into the natural contours of the land, the serene, low-profile home disappears into the surrounding forest, with its cedar paneling and siding intentionally blending in with the mature trees just outside.

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Renovations opened up the main floor: the kitchen and dining areas used to be cordoned off as service spaces, but they’re now the heart of the home, where a 12-foot island anchors the space and wood-trimmed windows flow into the adjoining dining room. The living room is cozy and compact with a high ceiling and a monolithic zinc-covered corner fireplace, while oversized basaltina tiles with underfloor heating keep the feet toasty even on the coldest winter days.

The sleeping quarters are all found on the lower level, accessible via a wide-step walnut staircase just off the dining room. The primary bedroom—and most of the others—spills open to the pool terrace. The rooms are all minimalistic, as are the bathrooms.

The pool and spa are set against a dramatic forest backdrop, with the landscaping courtesy of Ron Rule. There are plenty of seating areas and a fire pit.

Click here to see all the photos of the Vancouver home.