Sun-Filled Home on Lake Ontario’s Shoreline: House on the Bluffs

Today, a contemporary home designed by Taylor Smyth Architects caught our attention with its modern architecture rising on the base of what used to the owner’s childhood home. The 2,300 square foot  House on the Bluffs in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, gathers views of the ever-changing sky from all directions through tall trees that were kept intact during the construction. Glimpses of the nearby lake can be observed from some vantage points in the house and natural sunlight filtered through branches floods the modern interiors. Placed along the shoreline of Lake Ontario, the white stucco volume looks welcoming and makes you wonder how the house feels on the inside.

Grey Canadian limestone was used to adorn the front facade and some elements seen in the two-storey living room were given the same finish in Ontario Algonquin limestone, creating a strong visual connection between the outer and inner appearance. A screen of vertical channel glass on the front facade ensures that the staircase, guest bathroom and master bathroom get enough light, while the last one – a comfortable and relaxing master bedroom – opens to views of the lake through a backside glass wall. This transparent system of windows and a beautiful skylight ensure that the inhabitants live in a sun-filled home.