Inspired by the simple birdhouses a previous owner left on the site, this house stands out for its pure form and exquisite scale. Covered in lightly charred cedar, it recedes into the trees that populate this point of land. That was important because the house sits close to the water. “Our clients wanted something quiet and sublime that didn’t become a feature of the lake,” says Meg Graham, FRAIC.
Its interiors reflect the natural environment too. The slatted arrival porch along the side of the house opens to the bedroom level, where the primary suite commands views of the lake. Downstairs, a blackened steel fireplace anchors the public zone facing the water, while service spaces and a game room occupy the front of the house. Flat-sawn white oak veneer over plywood wraps almost every surface, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Darker materials—concrete floors on the lake level and porcelain bathroom tiles—ground the monochromatic palette.
“Using the same materials, paying attention to fine details and lines, and concealing things necessary for everyday life help to create a serene base,” adds project architect Will Elsworthy, OAA. Our jury agreed. “The house is a great size and the interiors are spare. It’s tight and well thought out, unique.”
Citation
Custom Rural or Vacation House
Superkül
Birdhouse
Apsley, Ontario, Canada
Project Credits
Architect: Meg Graham, FRAIC, partner in charge; Will Elsworthy, OAA (Ontario Association of Architects), principal/project manager, Superkül, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Builder: Brinkman Construction, Toronto, Ontario
Interior designer: Superkül
Structure engineer: Blackwell Structural Engineers, Toronto
Mechanical engineer: Bowser Technical, Brantford, Ontario
Metalwork: Enderman’s Ironcraft, Orangeville, Ontario
Project size: 2,945 square feet
Site size: 2 acres
Construction cost: Withheld
Photography: doublespace photography
Key Products
Cabinetry: Mill Line Woodworking
Cladding: Kindl Shou Sugi Ban cedar
Countertops: Caesarstone
Faucets: Franke, Aquabrass, Hansgrohe, Axor
Fireplace: Stüv, Ortal
Flooring: Moncer
Insulation and moisture barriers: Rockwool, Blueskin
Lighting: Liteline, Zaniboni, tossB, Viabizzuno, LumenTruss, Cedar & Moss, Viso
Lighting control systems: Lutron
Millwork: Mill Line Woodworking
Roofing: Agway
Roof Windows: VELUX
Sinks: Blanco, Mirabelle
Surfacing: Laminam
Toilets: TOTO
Tub: Bartok design
Window shading systems: Solarfective