The Masterworks of Arthur Erickson

Discover one of Canada's greatest architects

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I was fortunate enough to be exposed to beautiful West Coast Modern architecture from an early age. As I grew older and continued to travel, I quickly realized that the local architecture here is truly one of a kind.

One of the main strengths of WCM architecture is how the homes and buildings are incorporated into the natural landscape of the building site. Although architecture and landscape architecture have been traditionally treated as separate fields, they actually work best together in harmony.

Arthur Charles Erickson (B. 1924) is one of Canada’s most iconic and respected architects. While mostly known within Canada, Erickson has received universal acclaim from his peers; According to legendary American modernist architect Philip Johnson “Arthur Erickson is by far the greatest architect in Canada, and he may be the greatest on this continent."

Arthur Erickson has many strengths, but what has always impressed me the most is his mastery of incorporating natural and city landscapes to enhance the final design. Today we’ll be showcasing a few of my personal favorite Arthur Erickson projects.

Photo by Ezra Stoller-Esto

The Graham House (1963)

Located in West Vancouver, British Columbia. Designed in collaboration with Geoffrey Massey. Unfortunately demolished by developers in 2007 to build a larger home.

---

Photo by Jeri Koegel

Balboa Beach House (1988)

Located in Newport Beach, California. Featuring stunning floor-to-ceiling glass and glass block walls, which have been recently been making a comeback. Probably the most unique home in this list, since it really plays into Californian beachside living.