Expansive Interior Space through Minimal Construction

The provisions: The one-acre site situated on the north side of Last Mountain Lake located in the Qu’Appelle Valley system of southern Saskatchewan is rugged and steeply sloped. Views to the south and the west from this upper ledge of the valley are expansive as the lake bleeds into the horizon. The steep pitch of the valley ensures that views to the lake will be maintained indefinitely. The landscape is native, having never been built upon or cultivated. Surrounding slump zones restrict the building site to a 35’ x 80’ strip. This and an extremely modest budget defined a limited volume and materiality. The desire is to maximize both the view of the surrounding exterior landscape as well as the experience of expansive interior space through a minimal construction.

The approach: The intent of the design is to exploit the spatial potential of a 30’ x 30’ building footprint in a two-storey volume. Common to both levels is the strong axial definition relating to view. Unique to each level is the experiential quality of the axis. The main level introduces the axial relationship upon entrance at the front door, providing a view through the house to the landscape and lake beyond, while also directing the viewer to move outside of the axis to explore the adjoining interior public spaces. On the lower level, the axis serves as both view corridor and movement corridor. Defined as a narrow and vertically expansive space, the corridor does not invite the exploration of the more private areas adjacent. At each moment, the views available both of the house interior and rugged landscape beyond are carefully revealed through the definition of movement and material. The massing of the house intentionally avoids indication of directionality, which would act to highlight or downplay the views of the surrounding landscape. This unbiased massing is accomplished by using a zero overhang hip roof, which seamlessly blends into the exterior walls of the first floor and treats all facades of the project equally. Each elevation, while treated equally, is articulated as unique due to the response to specific site conditions. This is achieved through the varied arrangement of three window types, which are composed on each façade based upon building orientation and view. The material quality of the house manifests itself as a sculpted cedar-clad box where wall and roof are clad in continuous cedar shingles while the base is combination of horizontal cedar siding and exposed concrete foundation walls. The intention is for the house to blend into the surrounding wild prairie landscape, camouflaged with muted grey and brown tones.