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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Forest Retreat in Ontario, Canada by Kariouk ArchitectsApril 15th, 2023 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Kariouk Architects A Family Retreat in Rural Ontario The clients for this project live abroad, and sought a Canadian homestead an anchor for their large, young family. During summer and winter holidays, the parents wanted their children immersed in an Ontario landscape like the one in which they were raised. To this end, they requested a “rustic, modern retreat” for their 100-acre property of forest, wetland, and meadows.  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy
 Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy The family sought a generous home to allow young teenagers and extended family to be comfortable in a remote area for long stays. They sought a casual, comfortable space for the family and their dogs that would encourage activities like hiking and snowshoeing no fancy entertaining. Under One Roof The most powerful aspect of the design is the long, tent-like roof, which follows the site’s topography. The roof and its ridge beam became the design’s primary focus, shaping the circulation path through the home’s interior, ultimately extending a view toward the forest. A primary technical challenge was the roof’s structure, which despite its 60-metre length needed to seem light. The folds and angles of the steel roof are supported by the meandering ridge-beam.  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy The roof cantilevers and tapers at all edges. At the entry side of the house, the roof lifts like a bird’s wing off the garage volume beneath, sheltering an outdoor terrace. Playing with Heavy and Light Monolithic slate-clad volumes anchor the home and define the space between the curtains of glass. These opaque volumes echo the property’s rock outcrops. The garage, bathrooms, stairs, and pantry are grouped inside, and appear to hold up the dynamic roof. Steel construction was chosen to avoid using the expected material of heavy timber for this forest getaway. Being cognizant of the clients’ desire for a warm interior, it was also important to avoid modernist tendencies for box-like forms. Because the main floor is lifted above the ground and the topography falls away, the main floor is in the treetops while simultaneously filling the lower recreation area with light.  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy A Contemporary Approach to Warmth and Closeness The continuous space of the home, with only bedrooms and bathrooms closed off, is a layout that underscores closeness. The family areas and parents’ area are on the main level. The kids’ bedrooms are bundled into a single slate-clad volume, suspended like a cocoon above the main floor from a 40’ steel beam and accessed by a catwalk.  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy Sustainability To avoid cutting trees, the home was placed on an existing cleared ridge overlooking a wildflower meadow. The home is heated and cooled via a geothermal unit with summer solar gain reduced by significant roof overhangs. The glass walls are triple-pane, and high-efficiency fixtures and equipment for the well and septic system help reduce the home’s environmental impact. Historically, the Canadian identity has been defined by our relationship to the land. Fulfilling the client’s mandate, the home honours that emotional connection through visual and material harmonization with its surroundings.  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Scott Norsworthy  Image Courtesy © Kariouk Architects  Image Courtesy © Kariouk Architects  Image Courtesy © Kariouk Architects
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Categories: House, Residential |
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