Project: Canal Terrace House
Architects: Christopher Simmonds Architect
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Photographs by: Doublespace Photography
Canal Terrace House by Christopher Simmonds Architect
Christopher Simmonds Architect, an architectural design studio that has already been featured quite a lot of times on our website with their Dunrobin Shore Residence, Ottawa River House, Fraser Residence, Gatineau Hills Residence and New Edinburgh House projects is back.
Just like the rest of their projects, the Canal Terrace House is a stunning contemporary home whose design revolves around interconnected spaces with open floor plans and plenty of natural light coming through large windows.
The extreme change in grade across a shallow lot presented challenges for the design of this contemporary home. The solution was found in an unconventional way, by locating the front door on the lower level of the home. This would normally be a problem, but here the floating staircase and interconnected floor levels allow people on main floor to see who is coming to the front door below.
The open stairwell immediately welcomes visitors into the main floor living area where the kitchen, living and dining areas are located, and washes the space with southern light. The fireplace surround of concrete tile is at the centre of the space.
The main living space has a direct connection to the terrace overlooking the Rideau Canal. Built-in benches act as a screen and wrap around the terrace providing privacy while maintaining views to the north and west. The terrace features a modern concrete fire pit, completing the outdoor living room.
The master bedroom on the second floor has sweeping views of the canal. Moving upwards, the view only gets better, and at the third floor the shallow roof acts as a canopy for the sheltered terrace. Below, the north façade was conceived as two stone masses flanking a wall which consists primarily of glazing, creating a massive bay window. On the opposite side of the home, the roof shape is a modern approach to the mansard roof, in order to moderate the height and mass of the four-storey elevation. The exterior material palette of synthetic stone, cement panel, and wood creates contrast, and their congenial composition strongly defines the south facade.
