Warmth and Light: North Studio's Elbow House in Calgary

Located on the wooded banks of Calgary's Lock River, this home connects with the landscape while providing the feeling of a secluded retreat.

Calgary-based firm Studio North conceived the house as two levels: a brick base provides a sense of solidity and connection to the earth, but on the upper level, a wooden screen enlivens the facade.

“We thought of the house as a vessel for light,” says Damon Hayes Couture, creative director of Studio North. A wooden screen goes a long way to accomplishing this. It provides some privacy, but together with the surrounding trees creates daylight conditions indoors. “There are different ways the shadows move throughout the day,” says Couture. Downlights bring daylight even deeper into the space.

Inside, the main-level living room is surrounded by south- and east-facing windows, bringing an abundance of sunlight into the home and connecting the interior to the trees outside. Ten-foot ceilings make the room feel open and airy. Furniture and finishes designed in collaboration with Bailey Fray DeJong create a minimalist yet warm environment.

On the second floor is a wood-paneled structure containing brick master bedroom consoles. Windows on three sides of the room not only offer spectacular views of the surrounding riverbank, but also provide a range of daylight and shade, furthering Studio North's exploration of lighting.