Private and Public Residential Spaces Bonded With Nature

Rising two stories in the air, the Mary Lake Residence in the Village of Port Sydney, Huntsville, Ontario welcomes owners with a body made out of two separate volumes connected by a glazed entrance on the first floor and almost transparent second floor staircase and corridor uniting the upstairs spaces. Surrounded by tall white pines, this creation of Toronto-based studio Altius Architecture was described by them as follows: “The roof of the living room is sheltered between the two solids and becomes an additional outdoor space with a view over the lake, a garden and a hot tub.

The home is a balance of program spaces, with the public entertaining spaces of the living room, dining room and kitchen wrapping one side of the central void and the more private and intimate spaces of the library and den situated at the other. Two stone walls shield the house from the road while a canopy reaches out to create a welcoming entry. Warm yet contemporary materials throughout create a cozy yet light atmosphere.” This 3,000 square foot home boasts a set of sustainable features like passive solar heating, radiant heating, low energy lighting and appliances, and natural ventilation and lighting coming from sliding doors and cleverly placed windows. Green roofs extend nature’s expansion around and on the residence, while the indoor/outdoor connection draws it inside, creating a strong bond between natural and man-made.