Rural Retreat

This residence and outbuilding were created as a farm retreat from the busy professional lives of the clients. 15 minutes from their office but a world apart. The winding approach through the blueberry rows is intended to help peel away the pressures of the business world. The journey leads around the farm buildings, through the orchard into the auto court and breezeway connecting barn to house.

Visual cues along the way lead one on: the distant pavilions pyramidal roof acts as a marker to a garden folly destination and integral part of the clients outdoor living area. And the stone wall extending from the driveway, through the farm shop, the breezeway to house and finally found in the great room chimney referencing the hearth as that warm central place in family life.

The simple material palette and window placement direct the view to the landscape, surrounding farmland and mountains. Shared massing forms, materials and colour unify the two structures connected by the covered breezeway and stone wall. A protected, hidden garden provides a private place of delight and light collection for the custom designed stair connecting the upper and lower levels.