The design of her Pender Harbour Residence blurs the line between gallery and home conveying an easy elegance and casual luxury most associated with her work and the essence of the relaxed Pacific Northwest Coast lifestyle. “I believe the best way to view art is to experience it and live with it.” Pender Harbour offers a spectacular setting where art, design and nature converge to increase the arousal of the senses through aesthetics and nature. Bringing nature in, Sabina celebrates an indoor/outdoor lifestyle through natural wood elements, warm tones, an open floor plan, and large format windows and doors, which visually connect the ocean and lush greenery of the natural surroundings - uncomplicated and spacious. “I want to elevate guests and visitors’ experience of art design and nature - increasing their pleasure of perceiving an object through the senses.” Along with the stunning location, the story of this place is aspirational: inspiring others to follow their dreams, as Sabina was able to make hers come true. 

Born in Vancouver, descended from four generations of Pacific Coast Canadians living between the forest and the sea, Sabina is inspired by her sense of place and tells a visual story through her innovative designs. She was first introduced to First Nations art through her parents’ collection of Nuchatlaht baskets, as she spent part of her early childhood in Tahsis, BC, a remote area on the rugged West Coast of Vancouver Island that is rich in First Nations culture. Captivated by their vibrant colours and motifs, these baskets are now displayed in her home and are a reminder of the power of creation. Inspired by the natural world and the influence of First Nations people who have been expressing the spirit of the land through art for thousands of years. Her early place-based influences include architects Arthur Erickson and Ron Thom, pioneers of the West Coast modern movement that embraced geographical and cultural context, and artists Emily Carr and Jack Shadbolt, whose paintings have included First Nations imagery and forms. “My integration of organic forms and First Nations design elements – the U-shape, ovoid and s curve are layered with rich materials and textures, offering a sensual interpretation of northwest coast design and a striking contrast to the geometric lines of ‘architectural’ framework. In my architecture and design work, I am influenced by the region and the site. The role of place in my creative process is explored and celebrated. Whether in terms of materials or the interaction with collectors and guests, I am an artist rooted in my surroundings.”