Shore House - Stanley Office of Architecture

The site, an exceptionally steep lake shore property cloaked in eighty-foot tall trees, is both challenging and inspiring. It demands an architectural and structural solution that rises to the occasion - one that responds to the allure of the setting and is unyielding in the face of geotechnical adversity.

The team (including Architect, Owner, Builder, Structural and Geotechnical Engineers) considered several deep foundation strategies, evaluating alternatives based on constructability, site access for machinery, availability of specialised trades, cost and impact to the surroundings. A shoring wall, at a scale rarely employed in residential construction, is the key to founding the house on stable ground.

Firmly anchored to the escarpment, Shore House elevates the feature living spaces of the home high amongst the slender trunks of mature cedar and fir. A double height glass wall imparts extraordinary views through the trees and opens onto a cantilevering deck that (at a vantage point sixty feet above the lake) is thrilling and remarkable. Exposed glulam rafters and a wood burning fireplace imbue the home with an inviting atmosphere of warmth at a scale that is ‘human’ and grounding.

Shore House is notable for its architectural detailing, structural execution and geotechnical attainment. But, above all else, it is a family home that celebrates the wondrous sensation of living in the trees, high above the shimmering waters of Kootenay Lake.