Kennebec Lakehouse Arden, Ontario Rural Home, Canadian Country Property, Architecture Photos
Kennebec Lakehouse in Arden, Ontario
Sep 17, 2021
Design: Zerafa Studio Llc.
Location: Nordic Road, Arden, Ontario Canada
Photos by Tom Arban
Kennebec Lakehouse – Arden Rural Home
Kennebec Lakehouse is a year-round vacation home located on Kennebec Lake, a finger-lake in Arden, Ontario . The 2.8 acre site is defined by its dramatic topography, sloping down from the roadway to Kennebec Lake from south to north.
The site is densely wooded with a mix of tall deciduous and coniferous trees, and features a prominent exposed rock ledge extending the full width of the property parallel to the shoreline. The rock outcroppings are a dramatic feature of the “Canadian Shield”, Precambrian rock exposed by glaciation that left only a thin layer of soil in the area. It was important to preserve this ancient landscape when siting the house. By locating the house on the lake-side of this exposed rock ledge, we are able to build a two- level house with a partially exposed walkout while leaving the ledge undisturbed.
Programmatically, the house is defined by two distinct stacked zones, the house proper on the main level, clad in ship-lap cedar siding, and a lower poured-in-place concrete volume containing service space, a recreational room, and a guest suite. The simple rectangular plan is oriented in an east-west direction along the exposed rock ledge to exploit the uninterrupted lake views to the north and maximize privacy from adjacent properties. Glazing is mostly limited to both levels of this northern facade.
The plan is organized around the central common space containing the entry foyer, living room, kitchen and dining areas in a large column-free space. This main living space is glazed on two sides and is the interior transitional zone that mediates between the lake to the north and woods to the south.
Running almost the full length of this space, the covered south entry deck, and partially covered north amenity deck helps to blur the line between the house interior and the exterior. Bedrooms are located at either end of this space for privacy and are oriented towards the lake views along the north facade.
The house features a moderately-sloped gable roof with deep overhangs to provide protection for the long north and south facades. On the lakeside, this overhang sponsors an extended flat roof- canopy to provide partial cover for a substantial main level deck and barbecue station.
The barbecue station is housed in a concrete tower that is the primary deck and canopy support. The upper volume is clad in ship-lap western red cedar siding, stained a dark charcoal grey to help the house recede into the wooded site and feature minimally from the lake. It was important to ensure that the house would feature modestly on the lake, and as such the house only becomes visible as one approaches the shoreline.
Lakehouse has been designed to exceed the latest SB-12 energy performance criteria, with exceptionally high R-values for roof, wall and slab assemblies, air- tightness considerations, advanced rain-screen wall assemblies and Alumilex high performance triple-glazed aluminum windows and doors with argon filled IGU units with dbl- low-e coatings. The decision was made to forgo energy modeling permitted under SB-12 with Performance Compliance in favor of the more demanding Prescriptive Compliance Method.
Kennebec Lakehouse, Arden, Ontario, Ontario, Canada – Building Information
Project Name: Kennebec Lakehouse
Design Architect: ZERAFA STUDIO LLC.
Project Design Team: Jason Zerafa, Joe Chou, Weining Zhong, Joaquin Boldrini
Client: NA
Location: Nordic Rd, Arden, Ontario Canada
District: NA
Use: Private Residence
Site Area: 2.8 acres
Bldg. Area: NA
Gross Floor Area: NA
Bldg. Coverage Ratio: 1.4 %
Gross Floor Ratio: 287 m2
Building Scale: Stories above Ground: 1 ; Stories below Ground: 1
Structure: Wood and Steel frame on concrete foundation.
Structural Engineer: Optimum Structural Corp.
MEP: Morteza Hagshenas
General Contractor: Tarasick Carpentry, Mike Tarasick
Lead Builder: Adam Emmons
Max. Height: 7.32 m
Landscape Area: NA
Parking Lot: NA
Exterior Finish:
Western Red Cedar Ship-lap Rainscreen Siding
Alumilex Windows and Doors
Poured-in-place Concrete
Photography by: Tom Arban
Manufacturers / suppliers:
Windows and doors: Alumilex Architectural Aluminum Systems https://www.alumilex.com/
Metal roofing: Vicwest Prestige Hidden Fastener Cladding- Roof https://vicwest.com/
Wood Siding: D&D Garrett, ¾” Western Red Cedar ship-lap siding
Wood Stain: DULUX Semi-transparent Acrylic Stain
Insulation: Rockwool Comfort Board/ Comfort Batt. https://www.rockwool.com/north-america
Sheathing Joint tape: Siga Wigluv Adhesive Tape https://www.siga.swiss/ca
Wood Decking: IPE
Deck Brackets: Aluminum Maine Deck bracket https://deckbracket.com
Custom metal railings: Christmas Steel Fabricators and Erectors https://christmassteel.webs.com
Kitchen cabinets: Scavolini De Linea- fenix https://www.scavolini.com/
Flooring: Stone-tile Kafe’ Collection T&G European Oak https://stone-tile.com
Wood Stove: Friendly Fires, Wittus Shaker Stove https://wittus.com + https://friendlyfires.ca/
Lighting: Liteline https://www.liteline.com/
Kennebec Lakehouse, Arden, Ontario images / information received 170921 from Zerafa Studio Llc.
Location: Arden, Ontario, Canada
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