Belfountain House
Set within the wooded Niagara Escarpment, Belfountain House is a careful reworking of a 1970s chalet.
As the home of artist Joanie Ellen and philosopher Alex Klein, Belfountain House supports work, study and play across four levels. Instead of opting for expansion, UUfie championed organisation and sectional clarity – values that better respect the conditions of the site. To minimise impact on the landscape, the north side of the existing structure is preserved, while the south side is extended along the original footprint. Inside, spaces are delineated by shifts in level, compression and light, forming a dynamic interior that reflects the activities it enables.
Movement through the property is thoughtfully sequenced; measured and episodic, it evokes the experience of hiking through the forest. On approach, the home is hidden from view – once past the artist’s studio and pool, it can be seen through the trees. The residence enter through a timber-lined mudroom that leads to an expansive living area. Exposed rafters are intersected by supporting steel beams, painted red for a lively contrast. Above the main living space stretches a net that, making use of the high ceilings, serves as a hammock, balustrade and climbing frame with a forest view.
Continuing on, the rooms follow the downward slope of the site and the architecture becomes increasingly embedded in the terrain. A staircase suspended above the hillside is juxtaposed with one carved into the home’s bulk. Downstairs, the lower levels focus on relaxation and retreat, housing a sauna, gym, concealed guest suite and bathroom featuring integrated from TOTO. The guest suite is wrapped in translucent polycarbonate panels that produce a lantern-like glow at night. From one side of the house to the other, lines of wood and glazing run in parallel. While the glass allows seasonal changes in light and colour to influence the internal ambience, the timber joins materials such as local stone and concrete to anchor the project in place.
