A Mirrored Addition Melds With Its Rocky Site in British Columbia

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Naramata, British Columbia, Canada 

Architect: f2a architecture / @f2a_architecture

Footprint: 600 square feet

Structural Engineer: Fast Epp 

Glazing: Orr Custom Glazing

Photographer: Katie Huisman

Photographer: Florian Maurer / @florian_maurer_

From the Architect: "In 2003, architect Florian Maurer built his personal home in Naramata, British Columbia. The original architecture explored a garden-court concept: three detached structures around a generous enclosed garden inspired by Latin American courtyards. The courtyard controls privacy and views, in contrast to the typical suburban house, which is at the mercy of its neighbors.

"In 2018, the new owners of the house approached Florian to design a small addition—a multi-purpose space and private art gallery. But the architect's design was never intended to be expanded, with the septic field in the center of the courtyard and the main house at the edge of a rocky slope overlooking Okanagan Lake, no acceptable placement was evident.

"The slope to the west allowed a low-profile addition to be placed just low enough to maintain lake views across its roof from the main house. Slim steel posts support the gallery structure. Clad in stainless steel and reflecting sky and forest, it seems to float above the bedrock, fitting its grassland context gently. The disappearing gallery contrasts larger neighboring houses on remodeled terrain.

"The owners would have gladly accepted another small free-standing structure to match the house’s original concept, but local zoning would not allow additional structures, so the gallery had to be connected to the original house by a stairway. The stair hall glazing slotted into bedrock and stainless-clad gallery roof contrast the original house’s simple thresholds and exterior woodwork. The stair bridges from the living house to the gallery, an abstract space from which to observe the original architecture now exhibited alongside the owner’s collection of paintings and sculptures."