Budget Breakdown: An Architect Constructs a Plywood Hideaway for Her Family for $538K

For architect Helen Pang and her family, Canada's Salt Spring Island represents more than a forested getaway—its history is as cherished as its natural splendor. A part of the Gulf Islands, located between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island, Salt Spring has a history that goes back thousands of years. It was first inhabited by First Nations people, who processed shellfish on its shores, leaving behind particles of shells that have eroded over time into a beautiful, pearlescent beach. Later, the island welcomed African Americans leaving California in the 1800s after discriminatory legislation was passed in the state. Diversity and respect for the land are intrinsic parts of life here.

So when her parents bought the property as a legacy piece—a gathering place for their three kids and handful of active grandkids—Pang knew that making as little a mark on the land as possible would be a top priority as she built her family’s communal cabin. "We felt honored to be able to respect the history here," says Pang. "These grounds are very important." 

As the family’s resident architect, Pang was given full autonomy over the project, after the three generations talked over their dreams for the space. Her husband, Ian Boyle, happens to be a structural engineer and pitched in his services too. 

Instead of digging or excavating, Pang and Boyle concocted a structure to lift the building up over the ground. At a glance, the humble black box and its pine porch appear to be floating over a bed of ferns. "It’s almost like a treehouse," says Pang.