Residential, Sustainability

Saintfield House

 

The design of the Saintfield House began with a discussion on context and standard Canadian house typologies. As a newly immigrated family moving from the Middle East, the owners found that typical Canadian residential architecture had a dismissive response to its surroundings.

 

The design solution was to contemplate Middle Eastern residential typologies to develop a hybrid courtyard type that uses the boundaries of the site as the extension of the rooms in the house. The underlying concept of a courtyard house typology allowed for a built form that increases natural light, and natural ventilation. The solid perimeter walls that wrap the courtyard fold and become the north façade at the front of the house, creating a solid form that provides privacy to the street, reduces noise, and protects the house from north-westerly winter weather.

 
 
 

Massing Diagrams

 
Orient to Sun

Orient to Sun

Open the Block

Open the Block

Carve Access and Light

Carve Access and Light

Slope Up for Views

Slope Up for Views

Sculpt the Form

Sculpt the Form

 
 
 

To derive the form of the house, we used a methodology of site specific environmental and natural conditions occurring on the house to shift, carve and push the Parti to generate a form that results in a unique sustainable response.

 
 
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