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"I like that my daughter can come down here to play, and we can also entertain easily,

"We originally proposed using concrete for the walls because we like the plain style and directness," the owners say. Instead of concrete, Smith suggested rammed earth, a material that combines some of the physical properties of concrete, but is less "psychologically cold." The 16-inch-thick walls' thermal mass helps to insulate the interior from heat in the summer and cold in the winter. "Rammed earth is complicated," says Smith, "so have the right expectations, do the research, and hire the right people." David Easton—who Smith calls "The Godfather of Rammed Earth"—headed the contracting team that built the walls.

The house has two modules: a living space on the left and a utilities, laundry, and outdoor kitchen on the right.

Pool + Pavilion

Cedar, glass, and concrete combine in this minimalist pool house that draws inspiration from Mies van der Rohe’s 1929 Barcelona Pavilion. The pool house, built into a mountainside west of Montreal and designed by Halifax–based MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, employs board-formed concrete for the home's expressive exterior.

Built into the foot of a forested mountain, the Pool House is located at the edge of the St. Lawrence River valley floor.

The outdoor wood-burning fireplace is placed inside the board-formed concrete wall. The floors are locally quarried Stanstead granite.

To create a low-energy house, several passive environmental strategies have been incorporated into the home, including a heated floor system and exterior automated wood blinds. "Natural air ventilation in every room and cross-ventilation between opposite facades keeps the need for air conditioning to a minimum,

In the kitchen, a large picture window frames views of the surrounding forested land.

A naturally weathering rain screen replaced gaudy, faux-historical details.

This room can be a family room, office, or guest suite. The flooring is the same throughout: Riva Floors, Engineered Wood Select Grade, in Crystal Thunder, and the couch is from Restoration Hardware. Unseen is the foosball and ping pong tables.

A small kitchenette comes complete with a cook top and oven. White oak wood flooring is used throughout, as a standard feature.

The sink in the bathroom is created out of an old wooden table and a new sink basin, providing texture and patina in the otherwise pristinely white space.

"The design went through several changes to eventually get to the accepted design," says Wendy van Niekerk. "We were very intensely involved from the start of the design to the final design."

Street Facade

Kitchen with iron kitchen hood

Kitchen, dining and living room with plywood ceiling and micro cement flooring