5468796 Architecture creates house for "modest sanctuary" in Saskatchewan
Canadian studio 5468796 Architecture has designed the concrete and stucco-clad Arthur Residence that is closed off from the street but opens up inside, offering a "thoughtful alternative" to the norm.
The project is situated near the downtown district in Regina – the capital of the Canadian province Saskatchewan – in an established neighbourhood where small bungalows are being replaced with conventional houses.
The clients, David and Jane Arthur, brought on Winnipeg-based 5468796 Architecture to help create a private and tranquil house. It was designed to be a "thoughtful alternative" to the prevailing development trend in the area.
"The couple was seeking a modest sanctuary with ample space for privacy and respite from the outside world," the team said.
For a long, slender lot, the team conceived a sculpted box with two levels and a basement. Exterior walls are a mix of concrete and stucco.
As side yards often result in "unconsidered or leftover spaces," the team decided to have the home fill nearly the full width of the lot.
"Fence and wall merge, so that from the sidewalk, the house appears as a solid with a path leading to a single break," the team said.
While the home might appear as a solid mass from the outside, the interior is carved up to allow for courtyards and gardens.
The main level holds the social spaces – a living room, dining area and kitchen – along with a garage in the rear.
The living room sits under a dramatic vaulted ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling glass offers immersive views of pocket gardens.
Smooth plaster walls and concrete floors help reinforce the "sensory qualities of material, space and light that form the essence of the house", the team said.
"The subtle, overall atmosphere sets the stage for unwinding after long hours in pressure-filled careers," the team said.
Upstairs, there are two bedroom suites, each accessed by a separate staircase. A stair above the foyer leads to a guest bedroom, while a stair above the kitchen connects to the primary suite.
The upper level was designed to be a "sheltered refuge, providing discrete lookouts over the neighbourhood and the surrounding tree canopy".
It features curved walls clad in stucco and plaster, along with triangular, wood-framed windows that were crafted by the homeowner.
In the basement level, the team created a two-bedroom apartment with private access from the street level.
"This additional unit promotes more efficient land use and provides the Arthurs with flexibility for either rental income or multigenerational living," the team said.
Other projects by 5468796 Architecture include a Winnipeg house wrapped in a veil made of weathering steel, and the conversion of an early 20th-century pumphouse into an office and restaurant.
The photography is by James Brittain.
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