This house was designed and constructed for a family with adult and teenage children. The design objective was to allow for maximum privacy for each family member in accordance with his or her age and personal needs, and at the same time, create a public area that would act as a center of gravity and focal point for the house; bringing everyone together, reflecting the warm family atmosphere, and giving a sense of unity. The layout of the land dictated a multilevel construction, which resulted in a house comprised of 3 levels: the middle, entry level contains the public spaces, while the upper and lower levels include the bedrooms and service areas. The family was aware that the small-sized lot at their disposal would not allow for special, impressive facades, and instead, directed their attention toward the small details of the house interior and back yard.
The entry level public area is defined by a living room and kitchen with a high, slanted ceiling accentuated by exposed beams, and a large dining table at the center of the space. This all opens onto the deck, which is equipped with a Jacuzzi; thus completing the family zone of the house – a center of attraction for the downstairs and upstairs dwelling family members. The lower level is where the family finds the children’s rooms, a convenient laundry room, and a study (which doubles as a shelter in times of emergency), while the upper level contains the parental unit and another separate unit with its own entrance for the couple’s adult son.
The clients’ request to avoid shutters and curtains throughout the house led to a special investment in a system of high quality wooden/aluminum windows. Internal blinds enclosed within double glazed window panes provide both privacy and shade. Solid oak staircase connects and provides a middle ground between the “soft” wooden gallery floors and carpets of the upper level, and the stone-styled granite porcelain tiled floors of the lower levels. A combination of modern furnishings and décor within the softer, rural house background add interest and ambiance to this unique house.