Set on a uniquely angled urban lot, this 6,000 SF residence began as a direct dialogue with its urban context. Rather than fighting the site’s constraints, the architecture embraces them: the footprint follows the site’s irregular geometry. The angular language became a recurring motif throughout the project, informing interior layouts, exterior massing, and architectural detailing.
The kitchen island, conceived as the sculptural centrepiece of the main living area, further expresses this angular and sculptural theme. It is composed of three interlocking volumes that slide past one another. the island forms a dynamic composition with an integrated breakfast table at one end. Structurally, it is supported by a concealed steel frame engineered to accommodate a dramatic cantilever, while its exterior is clad in sintered stone to give the appearance of being carved from a single monolithic block. The base is precisely angled to comfortably accommodate four chairs around the breakfast table, balancing sculptural form with everyday usability.
Within the open-concept family room and kitchen, the interior palette continues to incorporate the warmth and tactility established on the exterior. Walls are finished in a custom Venetian plaster, hand-applied in layered coats to achieve depth, softness and subtle tonal variation. Even the basement walkout and rear deck echo the angled plan, extending the architectural narrative into the landscape. An outdoor dining area is covered by a second floor cantilever, to create a covered and integrated outdoor dining space.
The exterior material selection is warm, layered and textured. It was conceived to balance performance, economy, and design. Stucco was utilized across much of the second floor to reduce structural loads and manage construction costs. Rather than treating this as a utilitarian solution, the stucco was carefully detailed with varied textures and precisely proportioned reveals to elevate the material expression beyond that of a conventional stucco application. The pattern and rhythm of these reveals correspond to window sizes and alignments, reinforcing a cohesive visual language across the building envelope.
To further the concept of the house as a singular sculptural object, it was important to create a flush garage door that would integrate seamlessly into the front façade instead of reading as an obvious opening. This required careful, innovative detailing and coordination between trades, to perfectly clad the door in the same fibre cement panels as the surrounding walls, in the same plane and with the same reveal pattern found in the stucco.
Throughout the façade, we introduced vertical slats that create a visual rhythm and depth to the language. These were carefully detailed together with the builder to ensure they had enough lateral stability and were waterproofed sufficiently for both durability and performance.
