Anyone who’s ever worked in a dim, stale office (or, on the other extreme, a jarring, fluorescent one) can tell you that lighting can definitely make or break a space. Here’s a list of 5 homes that are absolutely working it with upbeat lighting and stunning facades that steal the show—regardless of whether or not they’re even trying! Take note: these homes across Canada are lighting up the block with their inviting and energetic attitudes!
The appropriately named “Lighthouse” turns light into the protagonist as the sun begins to set. From the architects at Linebox Studio, this design addresses the need for both privacy and connectivity, balancing a crisp coolness with warmth. A combination of natural and urban worlds, this bright, boxy home celebrates a lively oasis within Ottawa’s city centre.
Ottawa’s McKellar Park, developed in the 1950s, has emerged as a highly desired inner suburb with mature trees, green parks and a pleasant, but eclectic, mix of primarily two-storey homes. This home’s new design is intended to reflect the individuality of the neighbourhood’s houses without imposing a major jolt. The house focuses on respecting its context, responding not only to the life-needs of its inhabitants, but also to the shapes and styles of its environment. Nevertheless, this glowing golden design certainly conveys a sense of audacity!
Originally built in 1939, the Hambly House is one of only a handful of Art Moderne houses to be found in Ontario. A striking example of Art Deco architecture, the house was purchased in dire condition in 2013 by new owners who wanted to rehabilitate and reimagine the home. In a gesture of openness and connection to their neighbors, they added the largely transparent upper story that you see glowing in the afternoon light. Below, the windows and doors have received a colourful treatment that sparks a sense of liveliness. Using light, colour, and transparency, this rehabilitation is as bold as the original Art Deco home!
Take the full tour of this home here.
Sitting atop a ridge with views over the Saanich Inlet, the Arbutus House unfolds as a series of curves and rectangles, with curved red cedar clad walls paired with a maze of rectangular panes of glass. Mirroring its forest surrounds, the home is largely composed of wood, including a douglas fir timber frame and floating fir ceiling. Windows and doors are also framed in douglas fir, with a red cedar handrail winding around the expansive terrace. At night, this home adopts the imagery of being somewhere between heaven and Earth, the red cedar and glazing allowing the warm, organic ambience of the interior to radiate out across the slope.
The Mini Craven has an interesting story: previously standing in this small 14’x70’ lot was a house serving as a drug lab, which was condemned and demolished. However, the current resident was drawn to the area, as it sits in Toronto’s quirky, diverse, and affordable Tiny Town neighborhood. In this beautifully mixed context, this new home contributes its own sense of personality—although compact, the home take advantage of every opportunity to put forth something unique and unexpected, like the purple windows and yellow foundation that you see peeking out from the snow.
Take a full tour of this home here!