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The Scarboro House is a replacement dwelling in one of Calgary's most established communities. Set on a odd shaped corner parcel, the site is heavily wooded for a city site and enjoys a beautiful westerly aspect along its long axis. With a young and growing family - our clients sought to maximize the building on the parcel with the intention of dwelling within the home for more than 30 years.

With an intent of long-term inhabitation and investment, the building became an exploration into the duality of architecture; the main level expressed as a thick board formed concrete with second volume comprised of a more delicate timber facade set atop.

Characterized by a large cantilever and an elongated privacy wall to the north, the house acts as protector to a more private western garden. The seemingly solid structure opens up to the west with large expanses of operable glazing that can be retracted in the warmer months to allow for a greater connection between interior and exterior spaces. The upper volume is expressed with a rhythmic solid timber facade which contrasts the strength and brutality of the concrete below. Stretching outward from all sides of the building, the upper volume adresses the street front, and with a large cantilever working with the privacy wall, engages the corner site while maintaining privacy and views for both the new home and the adjacent parcels.A thrid storey lounge and rooftop terrace take advantage of city views to the east and provide addition private exterior space for entertaining. The house itself exemplifies our belief in the beauty of material honesty, which is so often ignored in entirety in the context of Calgary architecture.

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