Why the Greatest West Coast Modern Homes Have Already Been Built
The postwar architects of this coast created a residential language that remains unmatched in its honesty, restraint and connection to place.
1 OF 1
MODERN
A curated collection of architecturally significant West Coast Modern homes.
Philosophy / 01
We believe the greatest West Coast Modern homes have already been built.
During the 1950s and 1960s, a remarkable generation of architects created homes that belonged unmistakably to this coast. They were defined by clarity, proportion, natural materials and an intimate relationship with landscape.
Many have been altered beyond recognition. Others have disappeared entirely.
We believe the finest deserve another future.
1 OF 1 MODERN acquires a select number of architecturally significant residences and completely reimagines them. Each is guided by its original architectural idea, then rebuilt with the performance, comfort and exacting detail expected of an exceptional contemporary home.
Only a handful each year.
Each unique.
Each one of one.
Architecture inseparable from landscape.
Collection 01
Fairmont
Bob Lewis · 1953
- Reimagined
- 2025
- Location
- North Vancouver
Architecturally significant. Exceptional location. Enduring value.
Enter the CollectionCollection 01 / Fairmont
The architecture was already timeless. The task was to reveal it.
Fairmont is a rare surviving example of a 1953 Bob Lewis post-and-beam residence. Its low horizontal form, exposed structure and direct relationship with garden and creek remain the essence of the home. The transformation preserved that clarity while rebuilding virtually every structural, mechanical, electrical and finish element around it.
Light / Structure / Landscape
Quiet refinement.
Without compromise.
The Standard / 02
Luxury is not accumulation. It is resolution.
The quality of a home is revealed where materials meet, where light is controlled and where every line reaches a deliberate conclusion. At Fairmont, the visible calm is the result of thousands of decisions: structural reinforcement concealed within the architecture, aluminum glazing aligned with the post-and-beam rhythm, custom millwork resolved to the millimetre, and mechanical systems integrated without visual interruption.
The result is not a reproduction of 1953. It is a continuation of the original idea, executed with contemporary precision.
Collection Standards / 03
Every residence must be worthy of the Collection.
- 01
Architectural significance comes first.
- 02
The original design idea is respected and made legible again.
- 03
Hidden structure and building systems receive the same attention as visible finishes.
- 04
Contemporary interventions are restrained, precise and sympathetic.
- 05
Each completed residence is permanently documented as part of the Collection.
Journal / 04
Ideas that shape the Collection.
The Architecture of Restraint
The finest West Coast Modern homes are defined as much by what they leave out as by what they include.
Craftsmanship Is the Highest Form of Respect
Architecture becomes permanent through the skill, judgement and restraint of the people who build it.
The Collection Standard
Curated materials and an exceptional specification define the visible standard of every Collection residence.
What Lies Beneath
The structure, envelope and systems hidden from view are often the greatest investment in an exceptional home.
The Cost of Compromise
Why thousands of seemingly minor substitutions can fundamentally change how a home performs and endures.
Architecture and Place / 05
Architecture and Place
Homes of enduring significance are rarely defined by their size.
They are defined by their architecture. Their provenance. Their location. And the quality with which they have been thoughtfully reimagined.
The most significant West Coast Modern homes share one characteristic above all others. They occupy exceptional locations.
Many were created before today’s planning regulations, subdivision patterns and development economics fundamentally changed residential neighbourhoods. Mature landscapes, generous setbacks, walkable communities, natural light, privacy and a close relationship with parks and nature have become increasingly difficult to recreate.
Those qualities cannot be manufactured. They can only be recognised and preserved.
For this reason, every residence within the Collection begins with location. Architecture and location are inseparable. One has little meaning without the other.
Collection 01 | Fairmont occupies one of North Vancouver’s most enduring neighbourhoods.
Located within highly sought-after Edgemont Village, Fairmont is a short walk to cafés, restaurants, boutiques and everyday conveniences. Highlands Elementary, Handsworth Secondary, French Immersion programmes, the Delbrook Community Recreation Centre, Murdo Frazer Park and an extensive network of hiking and cycling trails are all close by. The home’s unique relationship with Fairmont Park and its natural creek setting further reinforces the connection to nature that originally inspired Bob Lewis’ design.
These are qualities that cannot be added to a home. They already exist. Like exceptional architecture, they become increasingly difficult to acquire.
The rarest homes are not created. They are discovered.
News / 06
The Globe and Mail
A West Coast Modern original begins its next chapter.
Fairmont has been featured for its architectural provenance, complete reconstruction and renewed relevance to buyers seeking authentic modernism without the uncertainty of a conventional restoration.
View The Globe and Mail featurePeople / 08
The people behind the Collection.
Vision · Selection · Creative Direction
Graham Kwan
Founder & Creative Director
Graham founded 1 OF 1 MODERN from a belief that the greatest West Coast Modern homes have already been built, and that the finest deserve another future. His 35-year career includes senior leadership with Belt Collins, Intrawest and Character Capital, working with leading architects, designers, hospitality brands and investors around the world. He directs the selection, vision and transformation of every Collection residence.
Quality · Craftsmanship · Precision
Greg Hasler
Award-Winning Master Builder | Hasler Homes
Greg began his career at the Fred Hollingsworth Studio, developing a deep appreciation for the principles and detailing of West Coast Modern architecture. As one of North Vancouver’s premier builders, he leads the reconstruction of every Collection residence with uncompromising craftsmanship and exacting attention to detail.
Private Client Advisory
Nick Barnes
Collection Advisor | Sotheby’s
Nick leads the private introduction of every Collection residence. Through discreet representation, strategic counsel and an extensive network of discerning clients, he provides a highly personalized acquisition experience for those seeking exceptional West Coast Modern architecture.
The Collection / 07
The Collection
Every Collection residence begins with the same questions.
Is the architecture significant?
Is the location exceptional?
Can it be respectfully reimagined?
Will it remain worthy of another 75 years?
Only when the answer to every question is yes does it become part of the Collection.
The Collection is not defined by the homes it includes.
It is defined by the homes it refuses to include.
Collection 01
Fairmont
Available for Private AcquisitionPrivate enquiries