Originally designed and built in 1973 by famed architect Barry Griblin as his personal residence and professional studio, this West Coast Modern home sits above Fisherman’s Cove Marina in Eagle Harbour. It’s now on the market for the first time in decades, listed for just over $2 million.
The listing stands out not for its size—just over 1,600 square feet—but for its provenance. Griblin was part of a generation of North Shore architects who helped define West Coast Modernism, designing homes that worked with steep, forested sites rather than clearing them.
This house is a clear example of that approach. It’s built into the slope in six split levels, with spaces stepping up the hillside instead of flattening it. Working with both difficult terrain and a modest budget, Griblin used materials like cedar and glass and a split-level layout to fit the house into the forest—preserving the landscape while still creating functional living space.
One of its most unusual features is a two-storey opening built around an arbutus tree that still grows through the structure. A robin nests there seasonally, a detail that underscores how tightly the house is integrated with its natural surroundings.
The home also faces southwest over the marina, with large windows positioned to capture water views and changing light throughout the day. Decks are spread across multiple levels, and there are two separate workspaces.
