patkau architects: linear house

‘linear house’ by patkau architects, salt spring island, british columbia images courtesy of patkau architects

located on a sixteen acre farm on salt spring island, british columbia is ‘linear house’, a single family home by canadian practice patkau architects. looking to maximize the exposure to the desirable weather and natural landscape, the design features a series of porous and modular spaces that can be adapted to suit the needs of the inhabitant. bold and linear, the home both confronts and contrasts the diversity and textures of the secluded tree filled environment in which its exists. expressed as a single and continuous form, the main body of the dwelling extends 276 feet in length, opposing a row of mature fir trees and a body of water in the distance.

front elevation

a retractable exterior wall exposes the interior volumes, fully integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. filling the home with natural light and air, the flexible and adaptable panels instantly transform the home into an open air pavilion. on the opposite side of the structure, a covered walkway spans the unit, sliding past the existing trees, edging an adjacent fruit orchard.

covered walkway and view into office

inside, a series of open and expansive rooms are subdivided and defined by the insertion of concrete masses and wood cabinets. simple and organic, the pieces look to camouflage themselves with the outdoors, providing a visually unobstructed flow between both environments. a collection of skylights – over forty in total – pierce through the roof of the structure, further intersecting the home with its surroundings.

open panels

the exterior surface, clad in charcoal colored fiber-cement panels, is submissive to the encircling environment, rendering itself almost invisible when seen against the dark green foliage.

detail of panels