Honorable Mention: International Architecture Awards 2023
Dufferin County Residence, Mulmur, Ontario, Canada | 2021

Architects: Hariri Pontarini Architects
Lead Architect: Siamak Hariri
General Contractor: MDK Construction Client: Private
Photographers: doublespace photography and Scott Norsworthy

The client’s desire was for a peaceful rural retreat at one with nature and instantly welcoming in gesture. This is architecture meant to ‘disappear’ in its context and yet, from any vantage point in the house, capture panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment and be fully aware of seasonal changes at play in its setting. With a low-lying form and palette inspired by the terrain on which it lightly sits, this two-story structure is a natural extension of organic shapes and materials enabling the architecture to meld with the environment. A continuous undulating ribbon of bronze trim outlines cantilevered swoops that shelter and distinguish the central volume.

The north-facing overhang–a gesture to suggest outreaching arms–forms a porte cochère. The southern extensions frame the views and provide solar shade. The reach of this stretching horizontal plane settles the house into the land aided by the naturally weathering bronze and planted roofscape that change with the seasons. Three harmonious brick chimney stacks of varying heights add visual interest and echo the irregular surrounding treeline. A stand-alone cylindrical volume, silo-like, recalls the nearby barn on this hobby farm property. This expression of natural materiality and form transitions indoors where the same brick now frames the central hearth.

Interior finishes are unadorned, raw, and porous, applying polished concrete and brushed wood flooring. Radiant heating and geothermal energy support this sustainable structure. Throughout the main living areas, the flowing lines of the signature, hand-carved hemlock ceiling create an irregular wave pattern that softens the space and draws inspiration from the undulating hills of the local landscape. Large expanses of triple-glaze, bird-friendly glass establish an airy and tranquil atmosphere for rest and relaxation. A glass-enclosed outlook at the top of the home serves as a contemplative space to admire the setting. In the warm seasons, the informal landscape design comes alive with wildflowers and field grasses that embrace the home as an extension of its rural context.