ENGINEERED STONE LAKESIDE
When architects were tasked with creating the most idyllic rural escape for a multi-generational hygiene and dur
Neolith Strata Argentum and Neolith Nero Zimbabwe. Image by Adam Letch.
Located on the shoreline of Lake Huron, one of the five Canadian Great Lakes, is an awe-inspiring 17,222 sq. ft. holiday home, approximately one hour from London, Ontario.
The lake ‘cottage’—although in reality, far from your average getaway—is used as a retreat by its owners throughout the year, for all three generations of the family to enjoy.
In order to create a striking contemporary space for the owners, Sintered Stone from Neolith was specified for both the exterior and interior of the home. The homeowners requested a space that was durable, versatile, low maintenance and visually captivating from the inside to out.
The architects and designers, Mark Bullivant and Johan Basson at SAOTA in Cape Town, South Africa, in collaboration with Steven Cooper and Phil Sharron at Ontario-based firm, matter architectural studio inc., were faced with a significant challenge from the get-go when they took on this project.
Mark Bullivant commented: “When you first arrive at the location, you can’t see the lake right away because the site sits on a bluff, occupying a transitional space between the water and acres of forest land.
“We therefore wanted to make sure that the first moment you see the lake has a real impact.”
Conceptually, the architects stacked a series of rectangular boxes to embed the building into the ground plane, and suspended one overhead so that the living level could exist in between.
They then placed an indoor-outdoor volume to the south, in order to anchor the building and allow the various spaces
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Neolith Strata Argentum walls and floors. Image by Adam Letch.
to capitalise on the views. The architects have designed it so the setting sun creates a dramatic view from the living room in the summer. Further, the spaces within the home are fluid, yet well-structured, ensuring the house has a casual, effortless feel—a big driver given the home was built for the whole family to relax and entertain.
Neolith was specified throughout the interior of the home, in collaboration with distributing partners, Marble Trend and Ontario Panelization. It was used for all the flooring, bathrooms, kitchen ceiling, several corridors and the stairwell, which is three stories high.
The interior colour palette is a subtle representation of the exterior, with a strategic balance of light and dark. While Strata Argentum was used for the floors, Krater was used to achieve the blackened metal look of the fireplaces and external screens.
The seamless continuity of material from the inside out was further aided by Stone and Textures artist, Eva Chylinski, who hand-painted the edges of each surface to match its pattern.
Speaking on the overall design concept, Basson stated: “Materiality is a key pillar of our design ethos, in that we constantly seek to create interest and expression in our buildings through the products we use.
“Faced with the challenge of working in an environment as demanding as this one, the product choice and its longevity were critical. Our main goal was to build a home that could withstand Canada’s weather conditions, while also being beautiful. When the client, in collaboration with Ontario Panelization, introduced us to Neolith, we immediately fell in love with the brand and its wide variety of high-quality finishes, as well as, of course, its durability.”
www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk
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