The architectural concept was to create an optical camera to capture incoming light and frame three distinct fields of vision: the foreground of the forest, the background of the Garibaldi Range, and the midground of Owl Ridge. The glazing is arranged to provide continually shifting perspectives as the inhabitant moves through the spaces, and the ground plane of the house follows the natural slope of the site.
Private spaces are situated against the densely forested upper level of the slope and public spaces run parallel below, following a program which includes two bedrooms, a flex room, a swimming pool, an outdoor dining area, and a detached workshop. Clad primarily in a flatsawn and brushed Western Red Cedar with a dark stain finish, the house appears to recede into the surrounding forest; passive heating and cooling strategies are prioritized throughout, and photovoltaic panels supply a sustainable energy source.
Ultimately, this is a house which seeks to leave a minimal footprint, while magnifying the ways that our source of shelter might celebrate vision and elevate experience.
Project name: Camera House
Architects: Leckie Studio – https://leckiestudio.com/
Location: Pemberton Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Area: 2650 sf
Photographer: Ema Peter – https://www.emapeter.com/