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Empire House, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada by Woodford Architecture

Project name:
Empire House
Architecture firm:
Woodford Architecture
Location:
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Photography:
Jane Brokenshire
Principal architect:
Christopher Woodford
Design team:
William Flynn, Tayrn Sheppard
Collaborators:
Interior design:
Woodford Architecture
Built area:
610 m²
Site area:
1320 m²
Design year:
2018
Completion year:
2021
Civil engineer:
Robin Summers, MAE design
Structural engineer:
Ken Tobin + Ryan Newburry
Environmental & MEP:
none (subcontracted by general)
Landscape:
Murray's Gardens
Lighting:
Woodford Architecture
Supervision:
(General Contractor): Jim Lannon
Visualization:
Woodford Architecture
Tools used:
Construction:
Material:
Wood-framed on concrete foundation. Exterior cladding is a mix of wood and composite metal panel. Windows were triple glazed, aluminum glad UPVC, tilt and turn
Budget:
Undisclosed
Client:
Withheld
Status:
Built
Typology:
Residential › House

Woodford Architecture: Tucked away on the edge of St. John’s historic downtown core, this private residence overlooks one of the city’s oldest cemeteries. The home is formally comprised of a series of overlapping rectangular masses creating both a highly contemporary form and a variation of interconnected spatial characteristics within the interior, ranging from intimate nooks to grand double-height spaces.

This project doesn’t shy away from memento mori. The cemetery’s picturesque views are embraced and celebrated. Views from the Dining Room, Master Bedroom and Master Bath look out over the park-like space, and a digitally fabricated wooden screen in the Master Bedroom emulates an aerial view of the grave plots from the neighbouring property.

What was the brief?

The house had to work with a very narrow site in an older section of St. John's, Newfoundland, facing one of the City's oldest cemeteries. The design creates a series of indoor and outdoor spaces which enhance the natural features and its unique relationship with the city and cemetery.

What were the key challenges?

The key challenges included creating a new home that fit within the bounds of the site, created privacy, and celebrated views while satisfying the needs of the St. John's Heritage Committee.


By Liliana Alvarez

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