This compact glass form, designed by Toronto's gh3 architects, sits on a granite plinth at the edge of Stoney Lake, Ontario. With a transparent, north-facing facade that's continuously bathed in diffuse light, the structure is perfectly suited for its intended use as a photographer's studio.
From the outset, ecological considerations factored into the design. The granite’s thermal mass exploits the abundant solar input, eliminating the need for active systems on winter days, while the lakefront site allows the use of a deep-water exchange to heat and cool the building year–round.
The design won the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture 2010.
(via Wallpaper*)
Photos: Larry Williams