Urban Ravine House

Our comprehensive renovation and expansion converted a dark and traditional two-and-a-half-storey (1,600-sf) home into a four-storey (4,000-sf) oasis that orients all levels to the natural beauty of the ravine to the south, with views to the city’s towers during the winter months and of the forest in the summer. 

The house now has two faces: a traditional one that looks out to the street and a modern one open to the ravine. At the rear, the interiors are connected to the backyard ravine via sightlines to the spectacular landscape and skyline, with outdoor decks and steps that lead down the slope of the forested yard. A new skylight sends natural light deep into the heart of the home, all the way from the roof to the ground floor, through an uninterrupted vertical volume that sits above the central wood staircase. With an emphasis on openness and brightness, the fluidity of the design is reinforced by the double-height space in the main living area and translucent walls and surfaces that filter natural light. We introduced overhangs on the south side to prevent direct sunlight from penetrating through the glazing during summer months.