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Jonathan Tuckey doesn’t so much whisper to old buildings as listen to them. Known for his innovative updates to historic homes, the British architectural designer was the obvious choice when his friends Al and Francesca Breach decided to bring new life to Nossenhaus, a centuries-old stone-and-timber structure they’d bought in the Swiss village of Andermatt.

Designed by Hugh Kaptur and renovated by Albert Frey, this three-bedroom home evokes vintage glamour with natural stone, mirrored flourishes, and myriad terraces.

A bright blue front entry door pops against the home's historic thatched roof.

Flagstone flooring throughout is a nod to the home’s midcentury era. All of the windows had to be replaced, but many were kept in the same spot as the original.

A Joe Brubaker sculpter perches in the guest bathroom, where the design team arranged a caged sconce that references old ships. The tile is by the historic Heath Ceramics, which is located in Sausalito.

After: The soaring new living and dining space benefits from an abundance of natural light from every side, and they spent a lot of time trying to find the best lighting for the kitchen. The final choice: long, narrow copper pendants from Denmark suspended by ultra thin wires to not disrupt the visual flow of the room.

Because the residence sits on a half-acre waterfront lot in West Vancouver and is not protected, it is a prime target for redevelopment unless a buyer who appreciates its architectural and heritage value can be found.

Original details can be found throughout, including the stone-clad walls and exposed beams awaiting on the lower level.

In the kitchen, a central island of White Macaubas Quartzite sits below vaulted skylights. "Marble counters and ledges create a sophisticated atmosphere, complemented by custom oak cabinetry and sourced brass fixtures, and an Ilve stove,

The multi-level home sits perched above the street, surrounded by meticulous landscaping of olive trees, soaring hedges, and lush vegetation.

The home’s washroom, located on the first floor, features GROHE faucets and granite counters. An adjoining bathroom and walk-in closet complete the space.

“To allow natural light to flood the interior space on the north side, which tends to be dark, a high sidelight was installed at the top of the vaulted roof structure, and a skylight was also installed directly above the staircase,” shares Senior Architect Shohei Hatori.

When addressing the constant gradient diagonal line restriction, Nakamura and team used the constraint to strengthen the design. “The diagonal line restriction can be a negative factor, but we intentionally incorporated the limitation into the [roofline] of the traditional Japanese wooden architecture, elevating [it] to the atrium of the staircase,” says Nakamura.

A cozy study with custom banquette and Japanese elm table is located on the north side of the living room.

The home’s eaves—over eight feet long—allow the garden doors to be kept fully open without rain blowing inside, barring a severe storm. The deep eaves also provide solar protection to the interior.

The Kitayama cedar rafter ceiling reflects a naturalist approach to modern Japanese architecture—as do the home’s Takenoko dining chairs, designed by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP.

Carlos and Whitney changed all the windows, opting for replacements made by All Weather Architectural Aluminum featuring line detailing that infuses the home with the Spanish hacienda feeling they desired. In the family room, the windows are accented by curtains from Nordic Knots.