Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Gu House
Sama Jim Canzian

Gu House

The Gu House is located on a sloped, triangular lot, directly below a busy highway. Designed for a young family of four, the house is a faceted "C" shape, that envelops a protected south facing courtyard, and buffers noise from the adjacent highway. 

photo_credit Sama Jim Canzian
Sama Jim Canzian

The main entry is located at the inflection point of the "C" where the house splits into two volumes. On the ground floor, kitchen, dining and living spaces occupy one side, while extended family quarters and an office, serve the other. On the upper floor, an uninterrupted skylight  - a continuation of the exterior wall glazing, spans from front to back, accentuating the division of use and architectural organization, while providing views up to the tall cedar and fir trees. 

photo_credit Sama Jim Canzian
Sama Jim Canzian

Openings on the north side of the house are limited to one large, double height window in the vaulted kitchen space, connecting the interior to the landscape and meandering garden path that leads to a small, multi-use studio. Views back from the garden through the window, are animated by circulation on the bridge to the primary bedroom, that spans over the kitchen.

photo_credit Sama Jim Canzian
Sama Jim Canzian

While exterior geometries are sharply defined by a contrasting palette of black stained cedar cladding and white fiber cement panels, the interior is composed of complementing wood tones and neutrals.

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