Friday, July 26, 2013

Westboro Home by Kariouk Associates

Ottawa-based Kariouk Associates have designed the Westboro Home in Ontario, Canada.


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Description



Design Challenge:

The site for this home was a narrow lot in a downtown neighborhood, which carried with it extensive code limitations on side windows. A further challenge was negotiating the difference in grade between the two neighbouring lots:an already steeply sloping site, the neighbours to the West raised their rear yard an additional 1.5m, ultimately creating a difference in neighbouring lot heights of approximately 2.5m


Design Response:

The design of the home revolves around a two storey, light-filled raised garden courtyard. The garden takes a “bite” out of the tight, permissible building area, however it allowed for an extensive amount of glass that otherwise, due to restrictive building code requirements, would not be possible. The courtyard’s lot-line side remains open, while its three interior sides are filled with windows and bring natural light into the heart of the home on both living floors. The courtyard is filled with ornamental plantings, and while it serves as a “daylight-magnet,” it also serves as a lush, visual focus for each of the primary living spaces of the home.


Upon stepping into the foyer, one is immediately presented with a series of linked views that unite the very front of the home to the very back of the property. The opposing wall of the interior foyer is entirely glass and shows the exterior, raised garden courtyard; this view continues through the courtyard and joins the interior of the formal dining room; this view then extends to an exterior garden bridge over the lower rear yard that ultimately joins visually to the interior of a three-season reading pavilion set in the rear yard.


A sense of privacy is created, despite the numerous and large windows that were achieved, as the main living areas begin a full-flight above street level;a slate and glass entry stair and walkway create a generous arrival point for visitors. Likewise, the entry stair/foyer volume is clad in white masonry in order to visually advance and welcome visitors towards the walkway (while the volume housing primary living spaces as well as the garage below is clad in black clapboard in order to recede from the sidewalk). A continuous visual and spatial gap cuts entirely through the home between the light and dark volumes; an open-riser stair is inserted into that void, set against the backdrop of the garden courtyard.



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Design: Kariouk Associates

General Contractor: Westboro Homes (Nicholas Heins)

Millwork: Robert Gruber

Landscape: Empire Enterprises (Brad Beerwort)

Photography: John Kealey Photography


Prefabricated Passive House in Mallorca

Contemporist reader Stephen Nickel has sent us images of the prefabricated passive house that he had built in Germany and shipped to Mallorca.


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Description



This designer country house was built on a 17,000 m² plot and absolutely quiet. When building large emphasis was placed on the processing of high-quality materials and the latest technology. The villa was built in H-shape on one level. Large picture windows provide a view of the beautiful interior courtyard with pool.


The 400 m² living space is divided into entrance hall with piano, modern fitted kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, master bedroom with dressing room, bathroom en suite, spa with sauna, shower & jacuzzi, an office room, guest WC and utility room. In addition, the villa also offers a bodega with panoramic windows and a view into the kitchen. An elegant fireplace separates the living and dining room.


For high quality facilities include inter alia Parquet flooring with underfloor heating, insulated exterior walls, aluminum double glazed windows and sliding elements, refined luxury bathrooms and a modern kitchen. A home ventilation system (especially suitable for allergy sufferers) and a heat pump provide summer and winter for the right room temperature. The undeveloped portion of the property can also be used for agriculture or of horse lovers. A private well produces about 80,000 liters of water per day.



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House Owner: Stephen Nickel


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