Balancing on One Foot Laneway

House

Ghandi Ln | Sudbury, Canada

We were tasked with creating a coach house to densify the downtown of Sudbury. My client is a wealthy businessman from Toronto who often travels to Sudbury. My client believes that balance and stability are key to success. My proposition is a modern house that reflects my client’s values.

My concept began as a set of three boxes stacked on each other to offer elevated views. I created a cantilever on the second floor. The overhang helps limit the impact on the site and allows the existing owner access to Ghandi Lane. The highest box helps create a sense of balance by adding a weight holding the cantilever in place. The triangle is used in the structure to break the linear grid of the building and give a sense of stability.

Considering the material palette, the first level is concrete to demonstrate a heavy base. The other levels are built lighter with metal cladding. The first level is the work area and entrance; the second is social, and the third is private. As the client moved higher up in the house, I wanted to create a sense of lightness. One can sense this in the staircase. The bottom steps have filled concrete risers, and I removed the risers higher up to create the illusion that they are floating.

Openings are primarily the front and back of the house. The openings allow for natural ventilation and a sense of transparency. I extended the walls around the openings to give the owner privacy from the neighbours. By reflecting on my client’s values, I offer a proposition that will provide him with comfort in stability.