Born from the Alchemical Transformation of Disused Wood

This video highlights the Shor House, located in Mayne Island, Canada, as a masterpiece by Measured Architecture that blends the beauty of repurposed wood with modern design. The house represents an extraordinary transformation of reclaimed wood, reflecting the philosophy of extending the life cycle of materials destined for disposal.

The narrative explores alchemy in architecture, emphasizing the repurposing of discarded wood as a frontier in wood design. The rebirth process of the house involves the careful deconstruction of old wooden structures, preserving materials for reuse. The decision to retain the original foundation and enhance elements like the dry-stacked stone wall underscores a commitment to conservation and harmony with Japanese tradition.

The richness of the Shor House is evident in the extensive search for recycled materials, including wood from a dismantled railroad and materials from the former Turner Dairy. The influence of sculptor Donald Judd in Marfa, Texas, is noticeable in the minimalist design and material choices. The house embraces simplicity and sustainability, emphasizing the absence of drywall in favor of Venetian plaster walls, local black Carmanah marble, and an exterior cladding of corten steel.

An intriguing decision is the choice to clad most of the house in corten steel, driven by considerations of minimal maintenance and rising wood prices during the pandemic. The video explores the reasons behind this decision, including the recyclability of steel and the architect’s family ties to the steel industry.

The alchemy of the Shor House is like a spiritual transformation of discarded materials into an architectural masterpiece. The house is a collage that imparts unexpected importance to its components, carefully proportioned and arranged in adjacency. In the architect’s words, “This house has been reincarnated!”

Credits:

City: Vancouver
State: Canada
Intended use: Family & Artist Retreat
Completion: 09/2022
Gross Floor Area: 330 mq
Costs: Confidential
Architects: Measured Architecture
Design team: Clinton Cuddington, Piers Cunnington, Patrick Gonzales, James Papa
Main Contractor: Powers Construction
Consultants: Fast & Epp Structural Engineers, Unbuilders Construction, Aloe Designs
Suppliers: Heritage Lumber
Photo Credits: Ema Peter & Bernardo Rodriguez

0:00 – Shor House
4:20 – Drawings

Similar Posts

  • 25 Small Eclectic Kitchens Full of Color and Personality

    When it comes to eclectic style we are even more careful than usual with decorating choice and strongly believe that it is not a style for everyone. It requires plenty of care to combine various elements of the style together and it definitely is different for different people. What works in one eclectic space does […]

    You’re reading 25 Small Eclectic Kitchens Full of Color and Personality, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • SO House

    REVEALING THE EVIDENCE Confrontation with the reality of these ruins was always a confrontation seeped in memories. Memories
    of a place where the raw matter it is constituted of – the rock, the valley and the mountain – shows evident expression, provoking a game of fine balance between place, matter, light and shadow. We found light that dripped down the stone walls defining spaces separated only by rows of stacked rock. In each fissure, in each wrinkle, a soft balance between light and shadow. Standing before this scenery, the exercise consisted in finding the most natural way to connect ruins and spaces, simultaneously defining future possibilities for links between the interior and the exterior. Where decisions were concerned, we chose to rehabilitate pre-existing volumes and introduce a new connecting element. The answer is given by the almost immediate decision to join together the pre-existing elements. This
    gesture, deeply connected to the terrain along the pendente – connects the two sections facing west,
    forming an exterior courtyard adorned with a centenary olive tree. This project builds a space that runs through the ruins, uniting them and revealing the obvious functional relationship between the house’s programmatic areas, simultaneously differentiating the possibilities for inhabiting the exterior space. It expresses its temporality through the antagonism of matter in its relationship with pre-existing elements.