Eppich House II – West Vancouver – 2004-2024
The Great Canadian Landscape Company was privileged to maintain and steward the landscape of Eppich House II for more than twenty years, during the time the home was owned and lived in by Mr. and Mrs. Eppich.
The residence
The three-storey, terraced main house is a striking 6,486-square-foot residence, thoughtfully designed with separate living levels for parents and children.
Outdoors, more than 3,000 square feet of terracing overlook meticulously landscaped gardens, a reflection pond fed by a natural creek, and sweeping ocean views – all seamlessly integrated into the site’s steep coastal terrain.
Arthur Erickson – Architect
Vancouver-born architect Arthur Erickson (1924–2009) was a passionate advocate for cultural awareness and a tireless explorer of the relationship between human experience and the natural environment. Though remarkably diverse, his work is unified by a deep respect for context, a mastery of space and light, and a sense of architectural dialogue with the surrounding landscape.
Erickson studied at the University of British Columbia and McGill University, later traveling extensively through Greece, Italy, the Middle East, and Japan, where he developed a nuanced understanding of architecture shaped by climate and terrain.
Arthur Erickson remains one of Vancouver’s most celebrated architects and a defining figure in Canadian modernism.
An Incredible Partnership – Cornelia Hahn Oberlander
Of profound influence on the design of Eppich House II was Cornelia Hahn Oberlander (1921–2021), a visionary landscape architect whose life’s work was dedicated to integrating the built environment with nature.
German-born and Vancouver-based, Oberlander was an early pioneer in ecological landscape design, recognizing the urgency of climate change long before it entered mainstream discourse. She was among the first women to study at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, where she was taught by Walter Gropius, a founder of the Bauhaus movement.
Her work blended modernist principles with naturalistic systems, creating landscapes that improved human well-being while respecting ecological processes.
Their partnership represents one of the most influential collaborations in Canadian architectural and landscape history.
Stewardship Legacy
Maintaining and enhancing the landscape of Eppich House II over two decades was not simply a maintenance contract – it was an act of stewardship. Every intervention respected the original design intent, architectural vision, and ecological philosophy established by Erickson and Oberlander.
Few projects offer the opportunity to work so closely with a living piece of Canadian architectural history, and we remain deeply honoured to have played a role in preserving its landscape legacy.
-
Architect: Arthur Erickson (1924-2009)
-
Landscape Architect: Cornelia Oberlander (1921-2021)
-
Landscape Lighting: Kichler Lighting
-
Plant Supplier: Cedar Rim Nursery
-
Installation: The Great Canadian Landscaping Company
