WIND HOUSE

WIND HOUSE

The generally flat, wide-open grassy plain, which characterizes this property, makes for a very windy site. With gusts that predominantly blow towards the southeast, the cooling effect they cause became a clear design objective, with the need to create a barrier to improve human comfort. As such, the design response was to orient the house’s mass to create a wind block to its west side, The program planning was organized in a T-shape building mass, resulting in two outdoor courtyards: one windy to its west side, and one calm, sheltered zone in the wind’s “shadow”, to the east.

Arrival Court
On the windy west side of the house, is the front “arrival court”, defined by the tall west facade of the bedroom wing and 90° to it, the tall south facade of the two-car garage. At the inside corner of these two masses, we located the house’s main entrance under a projected flat canopy, the only spot offering shelter from the predominant winds.

As “convective cooling” (the wind’s ability to rapidly cool an object by blowing over it) became a serious concern, especially during the winter months, the west facade of the bedroom wing was designed as an architectural buffer. Inside, this wall primarily featured a full-height bookshelf and pottery display bench, running its full length. Additionally, this facade was only given one low, horizontal window, rendering it a virtually solid wind shield.

Materially, the two tall masses defining the arrival court were clad in dry-stacked limestone (Wiarton stone), giving them a familiar rural quality, but one which is known for its hardiness and resistance to weather. Further combating the incessant winds, this courtyard was provided with a low dry-stacked limestone planter wall, defining its outer edges. This low wall, planted with wind-tolerant native species, essentially becomes the first wind block, deflecting winds up and over it, reducing the wind’s velocity on the arrival court itself.

Water Court
In the wind’s shadow, on the house’s calm east side, we find the outdoor “water court”. Here, two tall, fully glazed facades define its architectural character: the east facade of the bedroom wing, and rotated 90° to it, the south facade of the living wing. These facades create the inner backdrop for this protected rear courtyard, while the outer eastern edges are open to the countryside and its distance views. Centrally placed between these two masses of glass and stone, is a long, linear board formed concrete lap pool, complimented with a square hot tub at its southern end. No matter the season, the water court is a welcome reprieve to the site’s dominant winds, even allowing for hot tubbing during the cold winter months.

House Design
To create a clear hierarchy of wings, the roof of the living wing has been provided with an unusual form. Inspired by the wind itself, the roof appears to “flap”, like clothes on a clothesline on a windy day. As designed, the roof rises and falls in a curved, cupped shape, spatially impacting and defining the entrance foyer and living wing. This cupped shape works particularly well in the living wing, as its taller bowed ceiling ends characterize the kitchen and living spaces, while its low curved underbelly floats just above the dining area, creating a compressed intimate feeling, especially at night. The living room, which is the tallest space in the house, is dynamically dramatic, as its cupped ceiling rises to meet a sloped, fully glazed wall of sliding doors (east facade), which open onto distant views of the countryside.

In contrast, the two quieter stone clad boxy forms of the garage and bedroom wing are topped with flat green roofs. This clash of forms and materials make the architecture become more exuberant, with interplay of flat and cupped roof forms that mix with stone and glass facades.

Nestled within the top side of the bedroom wing’s flat green roof can be found a small outdoor roof terrace. This space, to be used primarily on summer nights when the dominant winds have subsided, invites family members to engage in life’s simpler pleasures, like star gazing or chatting. Adding to the enjoyment of this cozy space are built-in benches and a low glass fireplace. The terrace’s only access is from an exterior concrete stair, located at this wing’s south end. Capped with a smaller cupped roof canopy, this clearly demarcates its entrance from the water court side of the house.

As a completed architectural project, the design of “Wind House” speaks directly to its dual-natured outdoor courtyards, displaying a rural country charm with its use of traditional stone walls, while mixing with modern design elements, especially the wind-inspired cupped roofs.

LOCATION: Caledon, Ontario

ARCHITECT: LINEVISION Architects

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

CLIENT: Withheld

STATISTICS:

  • No. of storeys: 2
  • Ground floor area:
    3,142 ft2 (292 m2)
  • Basement floor area (finished):
    1,260 ft2 (117 m2)
  • Total floor area:
    4,402 ft2 (409 m2)

MATERIALS:

  • Dry-stacked limestone (Wiarton stone)
  • Vertical & horizontal board formed concrete
  • Vertical tongue & groove cedar siding
  • Silver curtain wall windows & doors
  • Pre-finished metal fascias, soffits & flashing (grey)
  • Composite wood decking (grey)
  • Outdoor landscaping

GENERAL PROGRAM:

  • Ground Floor:
    • Open concept living/dining/kitchen
    • Master bedroom/fireplace + ensuite
    • 2 children’s bedrooms with triple bunk beds
    • Office/laundry room
    • Bookshelf + pottery display
    • 1 washroom
    • 1 inglenook fireplace + wood storage
    • Roof deck/barbecue area
    • Swimming pool/hot tub
    • 2-car garage + shop

  • Basement Floor:
    • Family room
    • Games room
    • Exercise room
    • Wine cellar
    • 1 washroom/sauna

COST: Withheld

COMPLETION: Project