Modern Lodge by KEM STUDIO

Text description provided by the architects

The Walsh’s work in the urban core but want to truly wind down when they head home and casually entertain friends. They purchased a waterfront lot on Weatherby Lake with the vision of creating a “Modern Lodge.”

Modern Lodge by KEM STUDIO — Photograph © Bob Greenspan

The concept draws from the owners’ passion as a commercial photographer and the process of capturing an experience with a still photo. The house is two simple platonic forms, one resting on the other, pulled apart to create an aperture to the lake. The view is revealed once you enter the house, leaving the city behind and immersing yourself in lake living. The main public space is a wood-clad, two-story volume filled with light and the lake view. This is contrasted by a crisp, white stucco volume housing the private functions. The house is physically connected to the lake with large stones extracted from the site.

This project has won a Platinum A’ Design Award and an Archilovers Best Project Award.

Common Area — Photograph © Bob Greenspan

Questions and Answers

What was the brief?

The owners had a vision of a ‘modern lodge.” They were excited about lakeside living and wanted to build a home that was comfortable and provided a go-to place for family and friends.

Who are the clients and what’s interesting about them?

As a commercial photographer, one of the owners had an inspiration for the house from the process of capturing an experience with a still photo. The house is two simple platonic forms, one resting on the other, pulled apart to create an aperture to the lake. The view is revealed once you enter the house, leaving the city behind and immersing yourself in lake living.

Once the lot was cleared of some of its trees and construction began, the owners were awe-struck with how the giant back windows would provide a straight-line view of the main lake opening up off the cove.

What are the sustainability features?

We believe that sustainability is rooted in good design principles. Modern Lodge takes a holistic approach to sustainability by encompassing design, experience, lifestyle, and the building’s impact on the environment with systems and material use.

The material usage is honest, natural and resourceful. Half of the house is polished concrete floors without adding another finish material. All the hardwoods are utility grade oak – both an inexpensive material and quality of wood that is often discarded. The site contained mostly limestone that was extracted during excavation for foundations. All the rock was kept on-site and used in the landscape architecture.