Page 84 - Designing Ways 281

becomes a destination. The project brings importance to the paths
between spaces as much as the rooms themselves.

"Forest bathing" - health from within
The experience of moving through the project is envisioned as a walk
through Ontario woods and meadows — gently up over logs, under
low canopies, dramatically sweeping to towering heights, squeezing
through rock canyons, passing water streams... all lit from unusual
and unexpected places. The heart of the home wraps around back-
to-back fireplaces within monolithic concrete trunks, like a gathering
place at a clearing in the forest. Natural light is celebrated through
glimpses, washing walls, and reflections off surfaces. Every moment
of each day of the year creates entirely different qualities of light and
shadow play.

Sustainability & biomorphic design
This project employs a concept of environmental stewardship that is
often overlooked. Beyond the quantifiable environmental hurdles, the
project has achieved, its envelope, ground-source heating and cooling,
electrical harvesting, sunshine management, and resilient materials
aim to directly connect the occupant in a memorable and meaningful
way with its setting. The house opens and closes to highlight close
and distant landscapes - low foregrounds contrasting with tree
canopies and celestial events. The effect of natural light washes
textures at specific moments of the day and year, telling different
stories as time and seasons march on. The goal of connectedness is
to produce lasting empathy and a sense of belonging and stewardship
to the natural world.

Dove is a 5,000 sq ft L-shaped residence. It is designed to be highly
efficient, relying on minimal resources to perform. 41 photovoltaic
panels on its highest roof provide electricity that surpasses the home’s
demands, allowing its surplus energy to be fed back into the grid.
Geothermal energy is harnessed to condition the building throughout
the seasons. Its thermal performance is enhanced by a robust blanket
on all sides. When concrete masses travel from inside to outside, a
distinct thermal-separation buffer is achieved.

The building enjoys green gardens on its flat roofs – these gardens are
populated with local, drought tolerant plants, and are irrigated with
collected site water.

Concrete & steel beyond structure
Internal cast-concrete towers and walls are used to create visceral
textural richness and are also designed to perform as structural
armatures supporting the roof structure above. The concrete was
engineered as masts to anchor a network of structural steel frames
spanning across the interior spaces and beyond. This system allows
the wood ceiling forms to sculpturally weave through the project and
pass from space to space, seemingly floating without support. The
monumental heaviness of the concrete forms creates play between
the expansive openings and the lightness of the folded roof forms.

Material palette inspired by nature
Enduring materials that will embrace time were chosen throughout
the home. The folded main roof, lined with white birch on the interior
and rich weathering steel on its outer skin, rises gently through the
spaces, cradling the interior warmly like a tent. To enhance the
tactile experience a material palette was developed holding strong
juxtapositions such as the reflective, boldly-patterned green coloured
stone of the counter surfaces and warm oak floors and millwork to

84 Issue 281 • dw