As you turn the last corner of a wooded lane, the bold south face of Iron Stone reveals itself. Tucked amongst the trees, this home draws inspiration for its form and colour palette from the dramatic hard edges of the surrounding granite rock outcroppings. The design team worked closely with the client to design living spaces that supported and enhanced their lifestyle, daily routines and unique personalities. At the request of the early rising owners, the high volume of the loft is canted to the east, capturing the early morning sun. The building form is driven by the desire for interconnected living, cooking, dining and sleeping spaces. A central bedroom loft hovers above the kitchen, allowing for dramatic volumes and atypical sightlines through the home. The central kitchen, fronted entirely by a tall glass wall is the hub for daily activities and entertaining friends. Sunlight floods the main living spaces throughout the day and views of the surrounding woods can be enjoyed from any vantage point. The openness of the main and upper loft floors is balanced by the smaller away spaces on the lower walk-out level.
The central two-storey window wall faces due south capturing light, passive solar energy and ample passive ventilation. The sun’s heat is stored in the thermal mass of the diamond-polished concrete floor that also contains a radiant floor heating system. An efficient three-storey service core at the rear of the house contains all the mechanical, utility, washroom and storage needs of the home. The bedroom loft is connected via a light steel bridge to this service core, which holds the ensuite bath and dressing room.
