Bridgehouse, located in Port Sydney, Ontario is a 2400sqft linear home that spans an 18mWx5mD ravine in a forested valley next to a natural reserve. Designed by Llama Architecture and Urban Design, the private home is made with locally sourced Glulam Douglas-fir struts.

Designed as a horizontal volume, similar to that of a fallen log, Bridgehouse’s open plan living room is suspended like a bridge over the ravine to take advantage of the constantly changing forestscape.

The architectural design includes 12m high sliding glass doors that when left open creates an indoor/outdoor atmosphere similar to a covered porch.

The gluelam struts enable the living space to span the 18-metre width of the ravine with the rear strut doubling as a stringer for a metal staircase leading to the 2000sqft roof deck.

Unlike most homes, Bridgehouse has a fifth façade acting like a ceiling to the ravine. This façade is covered in unfinished, natural cedar so that it can naturally patina to a silvery grey with the weather.

Llama Architecture and Urban Design created an open plan living, dining and kitchen zone to take advantage of the forested views so close at hand.

The floor to ceiling windows run the length of the living space, rectangular on one side and A-frame on the other. The windows flood the home with leaf dappled natural light during the day.

A centrally located wood burning fireplace offers evening atmosphere and is a heat source during the cold Ontario winters.

When the walls of glass in the living space are left open, the metal deck on the outside becomes an uninterrupted continuation of the living space.

On either side of the living space, Bridgehouse features identical layouts for master suites that include de a bedroom, bathroom and large walk-in closet. Both accessed through mirror image shelf lined hallways. Both hallways have windows below the shelving.

Doors on either end of Bridgehouse disappear into the wood cladding.

The master suites are perched on the high part of the ground on either side of the ravine offering access to the level and grassy part of the site.

Bridgehouse creates a 38-metre-long line that is meant to act as a counterpoint to the landscape.

Llama Architecture and Urban Design

Blackwell structural engineering

All images © Ben Rahn

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