Situated in close proximity to the water on a site that was once a fishing village, Smith House is a vacation home consisting of three Corten steel and stone pavilions. Inspired by the history of the site, the design comes from MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects.
The clustering of the three pavilions, and their relationship to neighboring buildings, makes reference to the formation of a village or a rural farming complex. Multiple courtyards are framed between the structures resulting in microclimates that catch both the sun and the wind in response to the seasons.
Perched on a stone plinth made of granite - a material traditionally used for foundations in the area - the overall form of the buildings echoes the local vernacular. The buildings are however a departure in that their cladding, fenestration and minimalist detailing are thoroughly modern.
Inside each pavilion houses a different use. One contains the master bedroom, the second a small studio space, while the largest contains a living room, kitchen and dining area.
By drawing on site history, the architects blend the new design in with the land. 'At a time when so much of our world is in flux, this is a project is about timeless archetypes, rather than novelty or fashion,' say the architects. 'It is less about itself than it is about the landscape cultivated around it. '
