From the road, a steel staircase negotiates a steep cut in the site, into which the house is nestled. Its exterior is clad in cedar siding and flat metal panels. Aluminum window frames carry floor-to-ceiling glass. Siara confesses to some initial hesitation about moving from a heritage home in Nelson to a sleek, modern structure. However, after exploring examples of the LV home on Romero’s website, she began to appreciate the contrast produced by modern architecture when placed in pristine nature. The Farnsworth House in Illinois — a great masterpiece of Modernism by Mies van der Rohe — is perhaps the most dramatic example of this tension between building and nature. Through its engineered rectilinear form, one is vividly aware of maple trees swaying in the wind. Its pure white exterior amplifies the changing colours of the seasons. “Nature, too, shall live its own life. We must beware not to disrupt it with the color of our houses and interior fittings. Yet we should attempt to bring nature, houses, and human beings together into a higher unity.” Mies understood that by not imitating natural forms, modern buildings and nature can enhance one another. Like the Farnsworth house, Oliver and Siara’s home has an efficient floor plan. At 1,500 square feet it is not much larger than many condos. Double wide walls and a deep roof structure provide space for ample insulation achieving high R-Values. Prefabrication reduces construction waste and site disturbance. These are just some of the sustainable features that unite building and nature. Inside, the detailed house features clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and an open concept kitchen-living-dining area. A window wall opens onto 1,000 square feet of concrete decks, a hot tub built into the rocks, 100 feet of rustic beach, and a covered BBQ where one can grill today’s catch. Landscaping skillfully overcomes the usual pitfall of prefabrication; a home built in a warehouse far away can feel disconnected from its site. However, Oliver is quick to note, “I am a firm believer in the universality of good design. You could drop an Airstream anywhere on the planet and it would look great.”
Photos by Oliver Berkeley
6 WEST KOOTENAY FALL HOUSE AND HOME 2014