West Vancouver's Binning House listed for $5.25M as Canada's most important architectural home

West Vancouver's Binning House, considered the most architecturally significant home in Canada and the earliest example of West Coast Modernism, is listed for sale at $5.25 million.

The 85-year-old, two-bedroom home sits on a 12,800-square-foot lot overlooking the ocean on Mathers Crescent. It is Canada's only privately-owned National Historic Site. Artist and architect B.C. Binning designed and lived in the house, which pioneered design elements still in use today: floor-to-ceiling windows, flat roofs, and open concepts. From salons he hosted in his living room, Binning inspired other noted architects including Ron Thom and Arthur Erickson.

The West Coast Modern League has called the Binning House a "Rosetta Stone" and the most important architectural home in Canada. "This house represents the first of its kind," said Steve Gairns, chair of the league. "It's a revered piece of our West Coast Modern story and it stands as a testament to our region's design ingenuity and to the creatives who cemented our pivotal role in Canadian art and architecture."

The home was listed for sale in 2015 and purchased by West Vancouver realtor Jesse Saniuk, who restored the foundation, roof membrane, plaster, plumbing, wiring, windows, doors, and the murals adorning interior and exterior walls—work that took hundreds of hours. In 2024, Heritage B.C. recognized Saniuk and art conservator Cheryle Harrison with a conservation award for reviving Binning's murals.

Saniuk is now selling because he is ready to move onto another heritage project. He offered the home for West Coast Modern Week tours last weekend. Heritage advocates worry it could fall into hands that may dilute or damage the property, though it is protected by a heritage designation bylaw that prevents demolition or major structural changes.