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Nestled within a tree-lined ravine, this impressive home is positioned within two distinct landscapes. The property rests on over an acre of land, with the sloping ravine claiming much of this. The densely wooded slope, inclusive of intermittent stream, wraps around the property to meet with the open sun-filled and flat backyard at rear.
To preserve the tableland and reduce the building’s footprint, the optimal solution was a two-level structure. Setbacks and roof overhangs were used horizontally in the design to bring down the overall scale and keep the home from dominating its surrounds. To further reduce the visual impact, expansive window walls contributed to an all-important lightness in the completed structure.
The interior was designed to focus the attention to the outside and frame the ever-changing seasonal views. Wood joinery in stained oak blends with the natural environment and provides warmth to the modern design, while an irregular pattern of windows was chosen to reflect the irregularity in the woodland tree trunks surrounding.
Smooth wood paneling was extended to the building’s exterior walls, creating an elegance and allowing the house to sit as one with its surrounds. Creating the panels required working diligently with the window manufacturer and applying the principles of ‘yacht building assembly’, with the end result a welcome addition that largely contributes to the overall language.
The goal of the Glencoe house was not to trumpet an architectural statement. Drama was created in architectural moments when appropriate, but restraint was used when the dramatic surrounding should play centre stage. Through the fundamental design principles of proportion, light, balance and materials the attempt was to create a timeless architecture at home with its natural surroundings.
