We arrived at Fuzz's patio, and it was easy to see why he was charmed by it originally: it has a soaring ceiling, architectural glass railings, and a striking view of Vancouver's Burrard Inlet.
Lots on the patio wasn't working, though: its expanse of mealy terra cotta tiling, a monstrous and misplaced propane barbecue, and furniture so small and formally arranged that 15 minutes there would be more an interrogation than a conversation.
Bottom line: we needed to start from scratch. There were only two items we couldn't get rid of: the barbecue (too new to chuck in good conscience) and the vent from the interior fireplace (whose movement was prohibited by code).
Within these parameters, Reynoldo articulated to us his vision of "West Coast." From our interviews with him, and our own catalogue of images, we divined the four characteristics that would give voice to the project: strong forms, understated colours, use of natural materials, and local artwork.
Yes! Out with the terra cotta tile! Few times have I been so happy to swing a crowbar. We laid the new floor in a matte porcelain engineered for outdoor applications. Colour-wise, we chose "portobello," and its warm grey grounded the room and added to the restrained sophistication of the design.
With the tiling in place, we needed to create a seating area conducive to evenings of languor and conversation. For this, the furniture layout was crucial. We needed a sofa and chairs deep and comfortable, and informal tables for easy placement of cocktails and snacks.
The second order of business was that gargantuan barbecue. It had to hide, much in the way you put a tent-sized muumuu over an unpleasant aunt you couldn't avoid inviting to the wedding. Beside the stainless steel behemoth, we custom built a cedar and concrete screen to obscure it from the inside space.
Because the wall was short, an ordinary outdoor sofa was out. Instead, we built a low-slung loveseat using solid, locally-milled western red cedar. We clothed the seats in a subtle grey, which complemented the tile and mimicked a West Coast beachscape -- one in which sand, stones, and floating wood form a breathtaking yet understated palette.
Now for the tables, the oft-overlooked pieces that linchpin a space. Reynoldo's patio required an elemental touch, so we brought in two signature Brent Comber pieces. The "Drum" introduces a distinct and organic form to the centre of the room, and the "Trunk" provides a visual tension with the mesh chairs. I love that these pieces are high sculpture, and yet rugged -- designed to be used and appreciated every day.
No outdoor room is complete without plants. The challenge for Reynoldo's space was to choose ones suited to a jet-setting bachelor who's away for weeks at a time. The answer: drought-loving grasses and a variety of succulents, which are the camels of the plant family. They require minimal watering and their strong forms juxtapose elegantly with the cedar and concrete.
The journey of a thousand miles, said the Taoist sage Lao Tzu, begins with the first step. OK, it's a stretch to apply Eastern philosophy to patio tiles and gas barbecues, but it's safe to say that Reynoldo Fuzz has made a stride in the right direction.
-- Canwest News Service
