OR-1/OR-1R
MAGRATH, ALBERTA, CANADA
042911 | 1101
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project Type:
Single Family ResidenceClient:
WithheldBudget (CAD$):
WithheldSize:
3,250 sq. ft. / 302 sq. m.Building Design:
010110 | Architecture + UrbanismServices:
Architecture, ProgrammingGeneral Contractor:
WithheldProject Date / Status:
2011-12 / Unrealized
"People who build their own home tend to be very courageous. These people are curious about life. They're thinking about what it means to live in a house, rather than just buying a commodity and making it work."
The project was initiated as a somewhat complicated relocation-renovation-addition to a dilapidated 1920's rural homestead in the town of Magrath, Alberta. Prior to engaging 010110, the client had renovated the interior main floor justifying the effort to adaptively re-use the home through relocation over demolition of the dwelling. Once relocated and completed, the modest residence was to offer temporary residence to a family of seven while the objective of a final family residence was constructed on the original site.
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Due to unfair administrative obstacles placed upon the owner by municipal officials, the implementation effort was incrementally frustrated during early construction, slowing to a halt. The repeat delays exhausted the summer house-moving season and unfortunate circumstances triggered an abrupt change for a new fast-tracked design proposal using all new construction. Thus the original plan to relocate the dwelling was abandoned along with the owner's dream to develop the principal site.
"The public is more familiar with bad design than good design. It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with. The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring."
The first design concept was a powerfully simple volumetric upper storey thrust cantilevering slightly to create a protected entrance. The open joint cedar clad volume related to a tectonic vernacular typical of this prairie context - weathered barns, wind fences and monumental grain elevators. At night, glowing windows luminously peer through the screened cladding transforming the upper storey into a carefully punctuated light box diffusing views to the interior. On entrance to the dwelling, a surprising high interior volume creates a strong spatial experience and visual connectivity with various living spaces. The house fronts the street with atypical presence for its neighbourhood plot of imported suburban single family craftsman houses yet is more connected to the spirit of the place.
The boldness of the 'warm linear box on a darkened podium' and inability of the contractor to achieve its construction prompted a second design concept with a modestly subverted roof form using conventional trusses in a familiar shed roof profile and pitched bottom chord. This offered a more subdued street presence that could maintain much of the same interior volume in an extremely cost effective solution that was more sensitive to the conformative generic forms of neighbouring houses. Window fenestration was wrapped in deep window boxes that stretch high to the roof peak camouflaging the true depth of the truss behind and permitting maximum day light and views.
In both concepts, spacious light-wells at the basement and second storey roof provide ample daylight through piercing stairwells down to common basement areas. A screened exterior patio extended use of indoor kitchen amenities to the outdoors in a wind protected and privately screened area. Like the covered mono-sloped shed provided shelter for horse transportation previously, the garage volume was approached in similar fashion.
Tom Kundig (1954 - )
The project was initiated as a somewhat complicated relocation-renovation-addition to a dilapidated 1920's rural homestead in the town of Magrath, Alberta. Prior to engaging 010110, the client had renovated the interior main floor justifying the effort to adaptively re-use the home through relocation over demolition of the dwelling. Once relocated and completed, the modest residence was to offer temporary residence to a family of seven while the objective of a final family residence was constructed on the original site.
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OR-1
The initial phase of the project was to relocate and re-develop the existing home on a much smaller lot 3 blocks to the east. The existing main floor plan dictated site relationships and new opportunities for the final design program. The renovation was to best accommodate the needs of a young family of five daughters. The work included the development of full basement living areas, new electrical and mechanical systems for improved safety and efficiency as well as an entire building envelope/roof replacement. Overall, design expectations during this phase were to modestly adapt the home into an appealing contemporary residence to later be sold after moving to the client's primary residence at the previous site.Due to unfair administrative obstacles placed upon the owner by municipal officials, the implementation effort was incrementally frustrated during early construction, slowing to a halt. The repeat delays exhausted the summer house-moving season and unfortunate circumstances triggered an abrupt change for a new fast-tracked design proposal using all new construction. Thus the original plan to relocate the dwelling was abandoned along with the owner's dream to develop the principal site.
"The public is more familiar with bad design than good design. It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with. The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring."
Paul Rand (Design, Form, and Chaos)
OR-1R
With Canadian winter fast approaching, a revised design was prepared utilizing the waiting foundation intended for the original relocated 1920's dwelling. The work was expedited in an extremely short interval through an iterative design process which produced two new concepts for living.The first design concept was a powerfully simple volumetric upper storey thrust cantilevering slightly to create a protected entrance. The open joint cedar clad volume related to a tectonic vernacular typical of this prairie context - weathered barns, wind fences and monumental grain elevators. At night, glowing windows luminously peer through the screened cladding transforming the upper storey into a carefully punctuated light box diffusing views to the interior. On entrance to the dwelling, a surprising high interior volume creates a strong spatial experience and visual connectivity with various living spaces. The house fronts the street with atypical presence for its neighbourhood plot of imported suburban single family craftsman houses yet is more connected to the spirit of the place.
The boldness of the 'warm linear box on a darkened podium' and inability of the contractor to achieve its construction prompted a second design concept with a modestly subverted roof form using conventional trusses in a familiar shed roof profile and pitched bottom chord. This offered a more subdued street presence that could maintain much of the same interior volume in an extremely cost effective solution that was more sensitive to the conformative generic forms of neighbouring houses. Window fenestration was wrapped in deep window boxes that stretch high to the roof peak camouflaging the true depth of the truss behind and permitting maximum day light and views.
In both concepts, spacious light-wells at the basement and second storey roof provide ample daylight through piercing stairwells down to common basement areas. A screened exterior patio extended use of indoor kitchen amenities to the outdoors in a wind protected and privately screened area. Like the covered mono-sloped shed provided shelter for horse transportation previously, the garage volume was approached in similar fashion.
FINALE
Ultimately neither concepts were realized - ideas and work abondoned after relenting to pressure for a typical pseudo-craftsman home of monolithic scale and limited differentiation. The client has abandoned plans to develop any future projects within town limits.PROJECT LEAD
