Embedded Seclusion – Winter Park House by JHID and Steven Harris Architects

A harmonious sanctuary that encourages wellness and a sense of calm, Winter Park House is immersed within a landscape that surrounds the main form with a series of open courtyards. JHID and Steven Harris Architects craft a home that is both refined and grounded in a connection to the natural environment.

Weaving among the existing natural elements across the site, the residence is dissected into a modular approach. The entirety of the home is broken up into separate areas instead of sitting under one roof – open courtyards allow natural light and ventilation to filter inwards. As keen boaters who are equally cognisant of preserving the lakefront, the owners requested mechanisms that integrate sustainable water and energy collection systems into the daily workings of the home. Extensive glazing and a low-lying silhouette across Winter Park House see JHID and Steven Harris Architects navigate the site with measured consideration.

Extensive glazing and a low-lying silhouette across Winter Park House see JHID and Steven Harris Architects navigate the site with measured consideration.

The presence of 200-year-old oak trees along the edge of an adjacent lake serves as a guiding force in shaping the home’s form. Drawing inspiration from the modernist masters, large openings, a defined palette and low-lying spans are accentuated by a consistent application of white plaster. Timber is then used with other natural materials such as stone to add a textural depth to both interior and exterior rooms. The presence on the lake deeply impacts the experience of the house, with water playing a key role in tempering the tone from within.

Light finishes feature across the home’s material palette, allowing the surrounding landscape to remain the focus whilst enhancing a sense of scale from within. Elevated details and junctions then enrich the interior atmosphere and support the core focuses of calm, retreat and togetherness. Although contained to the one level, Winter Park House exudes a grandeur akin to any multi-level home of its brief and focuses on remaining grounded in the landscape.

The presence on the lake deeply impacts the experience of the house, with water playing a key role in tempering the tone from within.

Encouraging movement between inside and out, the thresholds of Winter Park House can be manipulated to suit a variety of occasions. Through a mindful connection to the landscape within all areas of the resulting home, JHID and Steven Harris Architects have created a house of lasting resonance that responds to place, time and its inhabitants.