Snowdon Road River House

The River House project involved building a new home for owners who wanted to take advantage of their unique riverside location. The house was designed with two distinct gable forms connected by a glazed entrance. The main wing and deck face the stream and are elevated on piles to accommodate potential floodwaters. The second wing is set back to create a private courtyard and garden.  The incorporation of landscape features provides a sense of the waterway within the house, with a rill between the two gable forms. To capture the natural surroundings, the linear forms of the house include carefully articulated openings, while sliding timber shutters provide privacy and sun shading.  Materials used for the facade include cedar cladding, river stone gabion baskets, and black steel roofing to contrast with the natural cedar. A small concrete wing on the side of the house serves as the service area. The resulting home is scaled to respond to the site conditions while protecting the unique qualities of the location.