Expansive Canadian Home with Two-Story Courtyard Adapts to Riverfront Needs

Finding a balance between the old and the new along with form and functionality is a hard ask indeed. Sitting of the edge of a river, the New House designed by Sturgess Architecture manages to achieve all that and a whole lot more with a multi-level setting where the line between the outdoors and the interior is cleverly blurred. Sitting on a reclusive lot in Calgary, the house is surrounded by other classic homes and its form responds to its neighborhood and the need to balance tradition with modernity. Even at the front one can see wood being combined with concrete in a beautiful fashion even as large glass windows open up the interior to view outside.

Contemporary home in Calgary with wooden front along with cement block walls








A two-storey courtyard is another distinctive feature of this house and you can see folding and stackable glass doors being used to link the living areas with the deck and courtyard outside. The house sits just 1.5 meters above the ground and this keeps out any flood water and makes sure that an overflow in the river remains under the house even during flood season. In the open plan living area, there is no shortage of sunlight with the kitchen, dining area and living space all flowing into one another. Bright pops of color brought in by the décor adds energy to the otherwise neutral setting.

RELATED: Black And White Kitchens: A Timeless Trend That Serves Every Style!

Double-level courtyard of the house with ample greenery
Folding and stackable glass doors delineate space inside the house
Light-well and staircase of the contemporary Canadian home with a splash of color
Open plan kitchen and dining area of the house with ample natural light
Wood and white kitchen of the house with sliding glass doors that usher in ample light

Apart from everything else that it strikes a balance with, the home also seems to fluidly blend just the right amount of privacy with a sense of openness and river views to offer the best of both worlds. A perfect family home! [Photography: Robert Lemermeyer]

RELATED: Picturesque Aussie Home Wraps Itself Around a Relaxing Central Courtyard

Wooden decor adds warmth and elegance to the modern interior of the Canadian
Decor adds splashes of color to the contemporary interior
Design plan of the New House in Canada
Floor plan of New House in Calgary, Canada with multi-level interior

Similar Posts

  • Saddle Peak Residence

    A completely transformative renovation opened this former tract home up to views, light, and its stunning outdoor setting. It’s all about the views, but this residence wasn’t always this way. What is now a metal and cedar stunner situated on a private, hilly enclave above Calabasas, was once a darkly lit 1960s-era generic single family home. A two-year renovation made a total overhaul for an entrepreneur and his wife, empty nesters with kids living nearby. The architect, Brian Wickersham of AUX Architecture in Los Angeles, didn’t change a thing in terms of the home’s footprint and rooflines; he couldn’t. “We initially looked at building a new home, but quickly learned that because of an ancient paleolithic landslide, that the county requirements for restraining the hill would be cost prohibitive and time-consuming—potentially five or more years,” says Wickersham. “Instead, we devised a plan to work within the existing house footprint and building envelope for a project that would be classified as a renovation.” In addition to these parameters, the homeowners tasked him with throwing out all of the old—down to the last salad fork—and bringing in everything new—all the while designing something where they could entertain a growing gaggle of grandkids. The result is a modern home that transitions from indoors to outdoors with the ease this property was intended for. “It’s about striking a balance between modest down-to-earth people and helping them realize they can be living a luxurious lifestyle,” says Wickersham. It’s about them living at a higher level of luxury.” A composition of dark standing seam metal and vertical grain cedar give the appearance of three cut pieces, shifted side-to-side, the wood being the cut face. The cedar siding also carries from outside to in, bringing warmth to the home and reinforcing the inside-outside connection. Solar panels, thermal panels to heat the pool, and a thermally coupled HVAC system enable the home to largely function off-the-grid.