We came upon this lovely residence a number of years ago when it begged a family to live here full-time to care for it. We were enchanted by the beauty of this traditional Suzhou home expressed through modern steel and glass, by the calmness of the landscape adorned with Japanese maples, dwarf pines and glittering red koi fish, and by the closeness and vibrancy of the neighborhood. So we moved in.
Within a short walk from our residence, you will find what we consider the three elements of good family life : (1) a top- notch school for our children, (2) an excellent Chinese restaurant and other good eats, and (3) a safe neighborhood with green spaces for our morning exercises. We frequently saunter along the main street together, exploring new sights and sounds and reconnecting with old friends – the baker, the banker and the barber.
As our koi have grown up, our two children, too, have grown up. They have moved on to grow their own families. This Suzhou Sanctuary was built for a family of four. It was designed by the internationally-acclaimed Chinese Canadian architect Bing Thom for Hong Kong immigrants Cecilia and Albert Poon and their two children in 1993. We now seek a family who have similar hopes and dreams for life and their children to take our place.
This three-storey 5,500 square foot (510 sq. meter) home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The second storey houses a master suite, two smaller bedrooms and a sitting area overlooking the backyard pond. There is a guest bedroom in the basement along with ample storage space. The home is equipped with state of the art German appliances, a security system and a safe. A second structure sits in the back with a five-car garage and an additional 300 sq. ft. guest suite complete with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, perfect for visitors or for a live-in nanny.
A highly-trained Canadian and Japanese construction team held to commercial building standards constructed this home. The zinc alloy roof is built on top of a concrete and steel frame that supports floor to ceiling windows in between. Modern technology is built into the walls and floors, including a smart air conditioning, radiant heating in the floors and a video camera security system. A new kitchen was installed in 2007 with top of the line Miele appliances from Germany.
| TOTAL FINISHED AREA | 5466 sf / 510 sm |
| LOT SIZE | 90 X 120 ft |
| YEAR BUILT | 1993 ( by Architect Bing Thom ) |
| BEDROOMS | 5 |
| BATHROOMS | 5 |
| PARKING SPACES | 5 |
| PROPERTY TAX | $15,700 CDN ( 2006 ) |
| UPPER FLOOR | 1,728 sf / 161 sm |
| MAIN FLOOR | 1,864 sf / 173 sm |
| LOWER FLOOR | 1,874 sf / 174 sm |
| GARAGE HOUSE UNIT | 300 sf / 29 sm |
| ASKING PRICE | $8,500,000 CND (MLS V949374) |
Our home is located in the city of Vancouver, Canada, which has been consistently ranked #1 on global livability surveys.You will find us in the west side of the city in a vibrant neighborhood by the name of Kerrisdale, which is home to a lively mix of Caucasian and Asian Canadian families. Kerrisdale is truly city central : 12 minutes to downtown, 12 minutes to the airport (YVR), 12 minutes to Richmond (for good eats). At the heart of the neighborhood is a bustling corridor of shops, restaurants and excellent schools including :
{ CROFTON HOUSE SCHOOL } (10 minute walk) is a premier all-girls school. An intimate class size, award-winning faculty, and recently modernized facilities make for an unparalleled educational experience. Its graduates, including our daughter, have gone on to Harvard, Stanford and other Ivy Leagues.
{ ST.GEORGE'S SCHOOL } (10 minute drive) is the brother school to Crofton House. The Fraser Institute, an independent think-tank, ranked St. George’s as Canada’s leading school in 2007. This K-12 boys school is well known for its dominance in sports and its extra-curricular club leadership opportunities.
In 1993, Albert and Cecilia Poon decided to embark on a project of their lifetimes : designing and building their residence in Vancouver, Canada. Both natives of Hong Kong, they had emigrated a decade earlier at a time when there were very few services for the small but growing Asian populous. While the early days were difficult, Vancouver quickly flourished into a hub for overseas Chinese. The Poons were inspired to integrate the east and west.
The Poons partnered with internationally-acclaimed architect BING THOM, a Chinese Canadian who went on to be awarded the Order of Canada for his distinguished service to the country. While Albert desired a home that was oriental in feeling but modern like the skyscrapers in Tokyo, Cecilia sought to revive and honor her memories of Suzhou, The Venice of China, with its water gardens and gentle traditional homes. Both also wanted a solid house with a practical floor plan in which to raise their two boys Bryan and Edwin and their dog Tiny.
Bing quickly proved to be a perfect partner, interpreting and bringing together the east and the west and the old and the new. In 2010, Bing unveiled the Canadian Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, achieving international acclaim since his early works such as this. Mr. Thom no longer designs houses, making this residence a one of a kind. His life's work can be found here on his firm's website : www.bingthomarchitects.com
Download a PDF document with all the information on this website plus more, including floor plans, additional photographs and the list of koi fish. CLICK HERE or on the image below to get the print-ready PDF document.
Our goal is to sell this home and make way for a new family to move in by July 2012.
We look forward to hearing from you and hosting you for a visit. Please call Margaret Law, our selling agent, for further information - we have listed this property formally with MLS (multiple listings service). She will respond to you within several hours. We would also be more than happy to mail you information.
MARGARET LAW ( Sutton Group )
(+1) 604.833.8309 ( Cell Phone )
[ suzhou.sanctuary@gmail.com ]
[ PUBLIC MLS #V949374 ]
MA FAMILY RESIDENCE
2868 West 44th Ave.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6N 3K2, Canada
