Hadaway House, example of perfect space-fitting building
The Canadian country house is designed to shed snow from its roof directly into storage areas
A project by Patkau Architects
#Design
img.0Patkau Architects sculpts Hadaway House in Canada’s Whistler Valley. Photography by James Dow / Patkau Architects. All images © Patkau Architects
Located on a northwest slope overlooking British Columbia’s Whistler Valley, this country house in Canada has been designed to shed snow from its roof into storage areas within the site. Completed by Patkau Architects, the external form of Hadaway House is also a direct response to the allowable building footprint and height limitations.
img.1The country house has been designed to shed snow from its roof into neighboring storage areas
Internally, the main level is essentially one one large space with living, dining and kitchen areas with an outdoor deck that opens up to the valley view below. A vertical crevice of space runs under the highest roof ridge, bisecting the warped volume and bringing light to the deepest part of the section and plan. Stairs rise within this rift and a bridge connects the master bedroom suite and the adjacent study. At the lowermost level more intimate spaces house guest bedrooms and a second living area, as well as a large service area where skiers can store necessary equipment.
img.2The external form is a direct response to the allowable building footprint and height
The slabs and walls which enclose the lower floor are concrete construction, while the uppermost storeys are a composite steel and heavy timber structure with woodframe infill. The entire structure is sheathed with a monolithic screen of open-spaced 2 x 6 cedar boards over conventional roof and wall assemblies. The thermal mass of the lower concrete structure dampens temperature swings during summer and winter. In warmer months the interior is naturally cooled and ventilated by drawing air from the lower level on the north side of the house to vent at the top of the central rift.
img.3A terrace overlooking the valley below
img.4The main level is essentially one one large space
img.5Angled windows present views of the surrounding landscape
img.6Living accommodation is brightly lit throughout
img.7A bridge connects the bedroom suite and the adjacent study
img.8The dwelling’s sleeping quarters
img.9The winter home overlooking British Columbia’s Whistler Valley
Project info. Client: confidential. Program: single family house. Status: completed. Scale: 5,000 sqf / 465 sqm. Architects: Patkau Architects – John Patkau, Patricia Patkau, with Lawrence Grigg and Stephanie Coleridge, Marc Holland, Peter Suter. Photography: James Dow / Patkau Architects. Engineers: Equilibrium Consulting. Geotec: Horizon Engineering. Envelope: Spratt Emanuel. Contractor: Alta Lake Lumber co.