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Forest Estate Home
By : Douglas Design Studio Inc.
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Residence / Residential Space > 5,400 sq.ft. (> 500 sq.m.) : Gold Certification
Concept & Inspiration
This home is located on a large private country lot surrounded by conservation land, a protected area for local plants and wildlife. Since the clients see responsible management as an integral part of their stewardship of this sprawling property, sustainability played a major role during the design and renovation process. For each tree that needed to be removed, several new ones were planted, resulting in over 1,000 new trees replenishing the surrounding forest though only a few were removed.
This luxury modernist home was once a mundane suburban bungalow. A new roof design opens up the centre of the house and creates fresh volume to work with. Newly added clerestory windows let more natural light flow in and connect the sophisticated interiors with their beautiful natural surroundings.
The clients had a strong vision of a mid-century to contemporary motif. The resulting design takes every angle of the newly opened up views into account. Above all, the finished home demonstrates how a skilful renovation of an existing property can minimize the environmental footprint of luxury interior design.
Overview
A meandering forested driveway leads to a motor court inspired by classic stately homes, all angles showing off the renovated property to its advantage without interrupting the views from the inside of the house. A newly added garage is hidden from view yet easily accessible. The spacious main entry area then sets the tone for the entire home as high ceilings and rooflines give the space an open, airy and uncluttered feel.
On this main level, the communal living spaces of living room, dining area and kitchen form the central element. The principal bedroom suite to one side and a separate wing housing the children’s and guest bedrooms to the other subtly ensure privacy without interrupting the flow of space, movement and light.
On the lower level, entertainment areas include a home theatre room, a guest bedroom, gym, and spa washroom with steam room, all centred around the outdoor pool, jacuzzi and cabana. An additional closed-off suite with its own kitchen and lounge area encompasses the needs of the clients’ multigenerational family.
Throughout the architectural story, plants are incorporated to echo the home’s natural surroundings. The main staircase, for example, sits on a platform with cut-outs and growth lights, creating a lush and luminous miniature biome that infuses the transitionary space of the stairwell with life, light and oxygen. Similarly, local lichen and moss are featured as part of an art piece in the gym and exercise room.
Challenges & Strategies
The two levels of the home nestle into the natural slope of the landscape, which creates an unusual structural framework. Raising the roof for the central entry and stairwell area brought in both light and volume and gave room for an entirely new interpretation of this existing property: A deep and philosophical connection between nature, architecture and interior informed many, if not all, of the design choices, from the overarching theme to the individual design challenges.
Wool, leather, walnut: A natural palette of materials throughout the home keeps the connection to its surroundings intact. Each furnishing element is chosen to directly contribute to this central theme, avoiding nonessential flourish in favor of clean, functional and uncluttered lines. Even the windows were left purposefully unadorned, only protected by sunshades where necessary. Horizontally layered furniture keeps sight lines open and contributes to a sense of expansive openness. Dark accents anchor the neutral colours as needed.
To add additional storage in the entrance closet, we “floated” a recessed cabinet off the floor. This solution maintains the strong architectural language and incorporates discreet, functional space while avoiding a clumsy drywall opening with regular doors.
For practical reasons, the laundry room is situated off the master closet. However, it also has a window with a gorgeous view, which inspired us to transcend the purely functional purpose of the space. Colour blocking and a variety of textures give the small room a quiet sense of joy that flows into the adjoining spaces.
On the exterior, a charred wood façade provides the house with durable insulation. The burning process known as “shou sugi ban” or Yakisugi is a traditional Japanese method of wood carbonisation that results in a naturally sealed, strong surface, without the need for a wood stain or chemical treatment.
Much thought also went into the demising wall separating the entry hall from the kitchen. Through extensive light studies, we established the angle of the sun and light penetration at various times of the year. The height of the wall was carefully optimized for uninterrupted views of the sky and natural light flow throughout the changing Canadian seasons.
Key Aspects of the Project (Room Details)
In the living room furniture, including shelves, are kept intentionally low along a horizontal plane to draw the eye to the beautiful vistas outside and emphasize the uncluttered heights of the room. To enhance the effect, the living room fireplace is also placed low, in line with the horizontal anchoring of furnishings.
In the entry way, the height of the separating wall to the kitchen and living area was carefully calculated for ideal flow of light, as described above. Additionally, floating recessed storage was added to preserve architectural integrity while adding functionality. A spacious mudroom contributes to keeping the entry space clean and uncluttered.
The powder room adjacent to the entry hall makes use of beautiful, natural stone, turning a largely functional space into a spa-like experience for visitors and family alike. Under the staircase, a small plant biome complete with growth lights brings life to an oft-neglected corner. The understated laundry room offers beautiful views and an intriguing mix of materials while living up to its functional purpose with plentiful storage.
Surrounded by windows on three side of the room, the master suite quite successfully creates the feeling of waking in the middle of the forest. A door to the deck also connected to the living space make it a multifunctional outdoor space, for private use or as an entertainment space. The indoor/outdoor interplay is essential for the design as a whole, whether through the addition of clerestory windows or the scale of floor-level windows. To maximize efficiency, the windows are triple glazed, keeping the home warm or cool as needed.
In a similar vein, the bar and entertainment space flow across the lower level with ease. Keeping the cooled wine room visually open invites the eye deeper into the house. The bar counter itself is surrounded by stacked cabinetry reminiscent of wine cases. Towards the other side of the room, full height glass doors open onto the patio, again connecting to the nature just outside. The adjacent entertainment room proper is sunken into the floor to create additional height and a distinct feeling of comfort. Wood walls and window drapery ensure optimal acoustics for music and video experiences. Day beds with sturdy, but movable backs can be adjusted for sitting or resting, and oriented towards any direction. Additionally, sight lines of the screen are still open towards the bar – a special request of the clients’ with an eye to the viewing of sports events. On the same lower level, the wet space of the bathroom and spa transitions into a teak wall that also forms the back of the aforementioned wine storage.
