Designed as part of a larger feasibility study, the River House provides a proof of concept for the development of a remnant parcel along Calgary's Bow River. We were asked to conceptualize a home for a parcel fronting the river's shoreline that felt as though it was in a more remote or private setting while acknowledging enough of its urban position to successfully negotiate privacy.
Within a flood zone, the River House responds with a highly robust materiality that allows for future flooding with minimal structural damage or loss. Concrete and protected steel are used for both structural strength and durable finish. In defiance of its strong formal language, the experiential nature of the home emerges from a sensitivity to both the urban site and the human condition.