FARM HOUSE

FARM HOUSE

The main concept for this modern country house was to invert the standard arrangement for living. As such, we located the bedrooms at grade (lower level) and moved the living spaces to the second floor (upper level). This simple re-arrangement of spaces allowed the lower-level bedrooms to directly access outdoor amenities, while elevated living spaces were offered dramatic, uninterrupted views of the countryside.

Lower Level
The clients for this project, an elderly couple without children, requested that the house contain two bedrooms for guests, each with an ensuite. For the comfort of their guests, we developed a low intimate aesthetic for these rooms by creating a compressed low entry sequence, and sank those bedrooms two steps below the corridor that serves them. The ensuites were upscaled in design, becoming more like washrooms found in five-star hotels.

To the north of the guest bedrooms and separated by a corridor is the family room/library. Meant to be used by the owners and their guests, the family room is intimately scaled with very few windows, making the space better suited for internally focused activities. Whether concentrating on desk work or getting lost in a good book, this room, with its huge fireplace, is perfect for quiet cerebral tasks.

To the south of the guest bedrooms is the master bedroom. In contrast with the guest bedroom’s sunken intimate demeanor, the sunken master bedroom’s curved ceiling soars to a two-storey volume, open to the living room high above. Just behind the modern four-post aluminum bed frame, is the master ensuite and walk-in closet. Here, the ensuite is fully “fitted-out”, designed to match the drama and prestige of the bedroom itself. In addition, the master bedroom’s side walls are fully glazed, allowing direct access to a private outdoor terrace and fireplace. From here, a small jaunt takes one to the main outdoor space, complete with swimming pool, hot tub and outdoor kitchen.

Upper Level
Upon entering the house, the architecture immediately gestures for one to go up to the upper level via a modern open-riser stair. Adjacent to the stair, at grade, is a small elevator, ensuring easy access for the aging couple to their second floor living space, for years to come.

Upon arrival, one is immediately greeted with an enormous volume of space, where fully glazed side walls (east) allow views of the rural landscape beyond. The hierarchy of this open-planned living space (kitchen, dining and living) is defined by its corresponding sloped ceiling, with the kitchen being positioned at the ceiling’s lowest end, the living room located at the highest, and the dining room functionally positioned between the two.

Turning north, one rises two steps and enters a modest-sized kitchen. Situated where the sloped ceiling is at its lowest, the kitchen’s design is sized for the two owners. However, when guests are present, the kitchen transforms, becoming an entertainment hub to take in a sporting event – one of the husband’s many passions. With television projected onto the kitchen’s north wall and “milk jug” stools for seating, the kitchen takes on a “pub-like” atmosphere, perfectly suited to the often-loud ruckus that goes hand in hand with such events. As a convenience, a small two-piece washroom is located next to the kitchen.

Moving in the opposite direction towards the living room (south), the ceiling begins to rise. At the living room’s terminus is a large, textured yellow Tyndall stone fireplace supporting two metal clad chimneys, rising to the ceiling. These black zinc chimneys angle up as they rise, overhanging the master bedroom below. These same chimneys, when seen from the house’s exterior, can be interpreted as architectural “horns”, taking their inspiration from the many bucks that traverse this rural property.

Exterior
Traveling past the expansive wheat fields and up the gravel driveway, the house’s unusual shape slowly comes into focus.

Its roof, lined with silver pre-finished metal, is sloped, with two rounded ends – the dominant feature. While this form may appear alien to the rural landscape, its inspiration comes from the common rounded form of the Quonset hut, combined with the everyday “shed roof”. As a result, the house’s primary shape becomes both familiar and unfamiliar, giving it a quirky presence in the rural landscape.

Expanding on this architectural composition are two massive Tyndall stone clad boxy forms, whose textured yellow colour acknowledges the yellow wheat fields beyond. One of these stone boxes is a two-car garage, placed on the house’s arrival side. The other – a massive, stepped form on the house’s private side – contains storage space for garden tools, while also acting as the sidewall for the stair leading from the upper level to the lower level.

Sheltered beneath the sloping roof, at its lowest end (north), is a sunken court, one floor below grade. Accessed by an exterior stair, the sunken court is filled with modern sculptures, a private collection that comes into view as one approaches the front door at grade, above. The southern wall of this lower outdoor space is the fully glazed facade of the home office. Complete with a Tyndall stone clad fireplace, the office provides a quiet workspace, offering the crackling sounds of wood burning on winter days, and a contained sculpture-filled courtyard to enjoy on summer days.

As a completed architectural project, this modern “farmhouse” can be understood as a quirky re-interpretation of familiar rural building types, combined with boxy yellow stone elements that serve everyday utilitarian functions. At the same time, when seen from the expansive yellow wheat fields surrounding this house, its composition of forms appears to emerge from the landscape, making the architecture one with its surroundings.

LOCATION: Mono, Ontario

ARCHITECT: LINEVISION Architects

DESIGN LEADERSHIP: Michael Poitras,
Principal-in-Charge of Design

CLIENT: Withheld

STATISTICS:

  • No. of storeys: 2
  • Ground floor area:
    2,596 ft2 (241 m2)
  • Second floor area:
    1,387 ft2 (129 m2)
  • Basement floor area (finished):
    1,955 ft2 (182 m2)
  • Total floor area:
    5,938 ft2 (552 m2)

MATERIALS:

  • Silver pre-finished metal roof & soffits
  • Tyndall stone cladding
  • Silver curtain wall windows & doors
  • Composite wood decking (grey)
  • Exterior concrete slabs
  • Flamed black granite flooring
  • Outdoor landscaping

GENERAL PROGRAM:

  • Ground Floor:
    • Master bedroom + ensuite
    • 2 guest bedrooms + ensuites
    • Family room/library/fireplace
    • 1 washroom
    • Pool deck/barbecue area/swimming pool/hot tub
    • 2-car garage + sauna

  • Second Floor:
    • Open concept living/dining/kitchen
    • 1 fireplace
    • 1 washroom

  • Basement Floor:
    • Office/fireplace
    • Exercise room
    • 1 washroom
    • Sunken outdoor sculpture court

COST: Withheld

COMPLETION: Project