Develop a prototype design for the owner that may be repeatable in the adjacent sites. Move important rooms onto upper floors to maximize light and views. Find a solution to the dominant double garage near the curb line, to diminish its visual impact. Include private outdoor decks at most levels that respond to sun, shade, wind screening and views. The husband would like a private study/office in the attic (with view) and far away from two young and lively teenage children. The wife would like a large walk-in closet in the main bedroom, a large kitchen and a area designated for growing plants. The children would like a private TV/playroom adjacent to their bedrooms.

Design Solution

The house is purposefully designed to be tall. The five storeys (including parking level) are linked by an interior circular stair. The circular stair, as an "only" means of access is illegal by the Alberta Building Code, therefore each floor and exterior deck is linked by a second but exterior stair to satisfy code requirements. The angled supporting wall for the stair becomes the structure for some of the decks.

The parking garage is located below grade under the main house away from the curb. Driveways are doubled up between two units to allow close spacing of front entrance steps. The fan shaped lots give the owners their largest property at the rear where the best views are found. Front yards and front yard maintenance is almost totally eliminated.

The structure of the house is based on four squares in a grid that is 12' by 12'. These dimensions allow good size bedrooms and playroom, a dining room for up to 12 persons at a circular table, and efficient kitchen with 25 linear feet of countertop, and a large living area when two rooms are used as one.

The floor level at grade (ground floor) contains two childs bedrooms, one TV/games room, and two bathrooms with showers--there is also a stacked washer and dryer--all within a four part grid.

The second floor level contains the living area with fireplace and greenhouse, a dining room and the kitchen, also all within a four part grid. Visitors arive at the entrance door by ascending one flight of exterior stairs onto the large entrance deck with built in barbeque. There is a privacy and security gate at the bottom of the stair to the third floor.

The third floor level is for the owners' bedroom, large walk-in closet and five piece bathroom; this floor utilizes only three parts of the four room grid giving one over to an exterior deck.

The fourth floor level is a den/study/office with two linked exterior roof decks for adults only; the interior uses only one part of the four part grid.

The interiors are mostly white drywall, grey carpet, with beech cabinets. The interior and exterior columns are exposed solid fir, window frames are exposed clear pine, and all glass is tinted green. The exterior is stucco using dark colours from the acrylic stucco catalogue. Exterior stairs are unstained redwood, open tread. Driveway is patterned concrete. The roof "crown" exposed structure and underside ceiling are douglas fir with exposed metal jointing.