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Devil’s Glen, a house located on the Bruce Peninsula, lies on a plan of two linear bars. This allowed the designers to achieve a complex roof form which lets in and shapes light, creating different levels of intimacy and viewing points to observe the landscape.
Studio for Architecture & Collaboration (StudioAC) was the project’s architect. The design process began with an on-site picnic, where a discussion focused more on the natural elements of the site rather than the building. The conversation inspired the ethic of the project to come.
The design began with two fixations: one having the house sited true to a north, south, east, west (NSEW) orientation to take advantage of the solar path throughout the day, the view of the water, and to avoid disturbing as much of the natural habitat as possible; the second fixation was to design the roof to achieve light penetration, and provide vantage points to view the treetops, water, and the sky beyond.
One of the linear bars comes with the sleeping quarters and the other comes with an open living space. A modesty to the plan uses a simple grid of 3.6 x 4.8 m (12 x 16 ft) for living spaces and a 3.6 x 3.6 m (12 x 12 ft) for sleeping to enable peace within. A simple shift of the two bars produces a covered terrace facing the water and a covered porch at the entry, while simultaneously increasing privacy for both the primary bedroom and the secondary bathroom. This shift in the bars also conceals the view of the water upon arrival to the site. Upon entering the house, the landscape and water are revealed via vignette style windows facing the forest, as well as an expansive glass wall facing the lake.
The plan is capped with a seemingly simple roof that structurally and formally responds to the extensive snowfalls that can happen in the area. The roof’s formal and structural concept uses framed and clad trusses to increase lateral stability, but they have a dual purpose. While the exterior face of the roof is consistent, liberty was taken with what was done with the partition between the two bars, above the height of the primary walls. Within each bay, this partition is allowed to sway from left to right, sometimes producing an intimate gable, a grand shed, or a funnel of light. This tactic is played further in the form of a sky-gazing platform that brings visitors up into this roofscape to view the treetops, clouds, and stars.
The choice of a singular metal building was inspired by farm buildings in the area, and a robust galvanized spec, free from finish colours, increases the robustness and reflects the hues of the landscape and sky throughout the day. On the interior, an application of white painted drywall and plywood on the roofscape defines the architectural device, while producing an unfettered backdrop for art, views, and sunlight.
