A Masterful Outdoor Living Space
Urban Coastal Retreat
What began as a basic deck sandwiched between a home and detached garage is now a fully enclosed, year-round retreat built for comfort and connection. The homeowners loved to entertain and spend time outside but found their existing space uninviting—too cold in the winter, too exposed in the summer, and completely impractical for daily use. This renovation changed all of that.
From Uninviting to Welcoming
Completely exposed to the elements, our clients dreamed of space they could enjoy regardless of Calgary’s unpredictable weather. To bring their vision to life, we installed a motorized louvered roof and motorized screens, giving the homeowners total control over their environment—sun when they want it, protection when they need it. To elevate the design, we wrapped the louvered roof system in a custom-built Kayu Exotic Hardwood pergola, softening the metal structure and tying in additional wood elements like the fireplace mantle, high-top bar, and outdoor countertops.
Completely Reimagined
The layout itself was reimagined with intention. A bar-height eating ledge with a waterfall edge was built off the main deck, providing additional seating and a clear line of sight to the lower patio and views beyond thanks to glass railings. At the center of the space, a 60” linear fireplace framed in natural stone provides visual warmth and ambiance. It’s flanked by frosted glass panels that let in light while preserving privacy from neighbouring homes. Above, overhead heaters and LED strip lighting are integrated into the pergola structure to create a comfortable atmosphere year-round, day or night.
Age, Weather & Activity Friendly
The physical deck structure was widened and extended to create a curbless, wheelchair-accessible entry from the back lane—a key priority for the homeowners who wanted to plan for aging in place. Now instead of walking through wind and snow to get to the garage, the homeowners enjoy a covered, enclosed transition space that’s beautiful, practical, and built to last. Whether it’s morning coffee, evening gatherings, or winter DIY projects in the garage, this outdoor living space seamlessly supports it all—with style.
A True Masterpiece
Notably, we resolved significant site and permitting challenges. The location and orientation of the new space required careful consideration to avoid shading neighbouring properties, which led to a detailed appeal process. The design was refined to address these concerns without sacrificing the vision. The backside of the structure was clad in matching siding and frosted glass screening to maintain a clean, cohesive aesthetic from every angle. Urban Coastal Retreat won gold at the 2023 BILD Alberta Awards for Renovator’s Choice, and, was a finalist at both the 2023 Canadian Home Builder’s Association and 2022 BILD Calgary Region Awards for Best Outdoor Living Space.
