Turner's Dairy Townhouse
On the Market
Turner’s Dairy Townhouse by Air Studio, 1913/2023
Mount Pleasant, Vancouver
Photography by James Han
Story by Nadine Cuttingham
Furnishings provided by Eternity Modern
A rare Mount Pleasant landmark reimagined for contemporary life, this 1,713 square-foot townhouse pairs the weight of its 1913 industrial origins with the luminous precision of AIR Studio’s contemporary intervention, creating a home that feels both grounded in history and distinctly contemporary.
A Home Within History
In the authentic heart of Mount Pleasant, The Turner’s Dairy Townhouse is defined by its substantial 1913 industrial bones. Its original character remains present in its proportions and massing, thoughtfully evolved through AIR Studio’s modern additions. Inside, the dialogue between old and new is felt rather than explained. Expanded glazing introduces consistent natural light, balancing the building’s industrial solidity with clarity and openness.
"We no longer saw ourselves simply as owners, but as stewards entrusted with carrying its story forward".
Set above the street, the interior feels quietly removed yet remains connected to the rhythm of the neighbourhood below. Contemporary kitchens and open volumes unfold within the historic shell, creating a home that feels deliberate, composed, and deeply livable.
Mount Pleasant: A Connected Community
Stepping outside, Mount Pleasant unfolds as one of Vancouver’s most walkable and design-forward neighbourhoods. Located at the intersection of 17th and Ontario, the home sits just blocks from the independent cafés, restaurants, and boutiques that animate Main Street.
"Neighbours know one another, families grow here, and there is a walkability that connects daily life in a very human way".
Daily life here is immediate and local, with morning coffee minutes away and evening dinners easily reached on foot. The building’s industrial heritage feels at ease within a community that values both its history and its evolving creative culture.
The Courtyard Journey & Approach
Arrival unfolds through an internal courtyard where established trees and textured concrete pavers create a grounded urban threshold. The canopy draws the eye upward toward the windowed aluminum shrouds above, subtly announcing the architectural transformation within. The reimagining of the 113-year-old structure reflects a disciplined, European-informed sensibility -prioritizing natural light, material integrity, and practical livability. Strategic light wells, integrated storage, and carefully framed sightlines feel purposeful and restrained. Nothing is excessive; every gesture supports daily life.
Domestic Carving: The Life of the House
The architectural strength of the home lies in the carving of its substantial industrial volume into intimate, light-filled spaces. AIR Studio retained the original footprint while introducing a sculpted interior void that connects levels and draws daylight deep into the core of the home.
"A thoughtfully designed home creates a sense of belonging. Not only about how it looks, but how it feels and how it endures over time".
A two-storey window anchors the south façade, allowing light to shift naturally throughout the day. Expansive ceiling heights lend generosity, while thoughtful detailing ensures the space remains comfortable rather than imposing. A curated palette of integrated millwork and wide-plank flooring allows the architecture to recede, framing the meals prepared at the island and conversations that extend into the evening.
A Vertical Journey
The Turner’s Dairy House is conceived as a vertical progression, inverted to prioritize light in the uppermost volumes. The journey begins on the ground floor, which offers a versatile lock-off studio with its own street entrance - ideal as a fourth bedroom, guest quarters, or independent workspace. The second floor functions as a restorative retreat where bedrooms feel calm and grounded, and natural light enters the bathrooms as a steady presence, highlighting refined detailing and built-in niches.
Finally, the experience culminates on the third floor in the social heart of the home, where a large central island anchors the open-plan living space and dual patios extend the interior outward. The 300 square-foot north-facing terrace captures evening light and layered city views, while the south-east patio welcomes morning sun and a closer connection to the tree-lined streetscape below.
The Next Chapter
In a neighbourhood defined by creativity and community, Turner’s Dairy House offers a rare chance to inhabit a piece of Vancouver’s industrial past - reimagined with clarity, light, and intention.
"The building felt resilient. It felt patient. And in many ways, it felt like it had been waiting for its next chapter".
With its transformation complete, The Turner’s Dairy House welcomes a new custodian into a home shaped by luminous interiors, refined detailing, and an enduring connection to the neighbourhood.
Home Facts
Name: Turner’s Dairy Townhouse
Address: #5 6 17th Ave W, Vancouver, V5Y 1Z4
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
Architect: AiRStudio (Inge Roecker)
Price: $1,978,000
Year Completed:
Original Complex:
Dairy – 1913
Stable – 1914
Warehouse – 1920
Contemporary Renewal: 2023
Interior Living: Ground-level studio with inverted-plan living above, where the upper two levels open to southern light and city views.
Builder / Contractor: Etro Construction (Mike Maierle)
Levels: 3
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Interior Living: 1,713 sqft
Exterior Living: 267 sqft
Structural / Engineering Highlights:
- Structural / Engineering Highlights:
- Original old-growth wood-frame construction
- Preserved original factory window placements
- Restoration and reinstatement of structural trusses
- Adaptive reuse within existing footprint
Landscape and Planning:
- Heritage-centred courtyard interventions
- Communal courtyard and breezeway
- Four private courtyards integrated alongside original trusses
- Missing Middle housing typology
- Double exposure living spaces
- Preservation of original massing of Turner’s Dairy
Key Materials:
- Original old-growth timber framing
- Historic brick masonry
- Exposed heavy timber trusses
- Ceramic milk bottle lighting (custom installation inspired by Turner’s Dairy artifact)
Views / Orientation:
- Courtyard-oriented
- Double exposure unit
- Ground-oriented home
Features:
- Heritage restoration of three historic buildings
- Adaptive reuse sustainability strategy
- Custom ceramic milk bottle dining pendants (engraved Turner’s Dairy logo)
- Adjustable-height sculptural lighting installation
- Preserved Edwardian industrial façade rhythm
- Courtyard social spaces
- Walkable Mount Pleasant setting
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