Glebe Residence: An Addition and Full Interior Renovation to An 1890’s Single-Family Residence

Completed in 2013, it is a project of a 1,500sf addition and full interior renovation to an 1890’s single-family residence by Batay-Csorba Architects. Designed for the Wilson Family, Glebe Residence is located in Ottawa, Canada and it has 2,200sf as its original size.

Design

Bounded by the Rideau Canal, this house is located in the southern portion of Ottawa. There is also massing of two-story existing rectilinear brick that is retained to provide a direct reference to its past story.

A three-storey rear addition and a new third storey are clad in black metal panels cantilever, pivoting around the existing historic sugar maple tree on the site as well.

Massing that uses the tree as a central pivot can be created due to the conflict between the limitations imposed by the existing tree and site and the required additional program. This central pivot is used for the shifting geometry to create a series of cantilevered masses that are diagonal.

Structure

The traditional Victorian typology has a lack of sectional continuity that is challenged by penetrating the house volume with interconnected voids to create visual relationships and light shafts between the separated house rooms.

Details

Besides allowing views and interaction between all three floors, the three-storey voids also can create a natural chimney effect for passive ventilation. This ventilation terminates with a series of solar-powered operable skylights. On the third floor, the large void from the exterior envelope creates a private roof garden.

Glebe Residence Gallery

Photography: Doublespace Photography