The Shear House was my answer to the Canadian Home Builders' Association's annual home design challenge for SAIT students.

 

This home was designed with a young professional couple in mind. The location is in the desirable neighbourhood of Sunnyside, on the north side of the Bow River. The husband works in the downtown core, while the wife works at the nearby Foothills hospital. Through discussions with like-minded working professionals, important values included 1) everyday flexibility 2) ability to expand, and 3) privacy.

 

The Shear House is designed with those three ideals in mind. With a large, open main floor plan, there are endless possibilities for accompanying everyday life with the mind at ease. The bedrooms can easily be converted into any space you need, and then converted back when the time is right. With a young family in mind, I needed to plan for their future.

Lastly, privacy was a concern with living so close to the action. Each one of my clients enjoyed their own space to relax and unwind. The wife was provided with a secluded two-story library that was hidden behind a bookshelf door, while the husband loved playing golf, so naturally the basement had a sunken area for a golf simulation game.

 

The Shear House is an example of client-driven design that provides meaningful architecture for the individuals that inhabit the dwelling.