TEAL Architects

Webster Terrace

Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer

WEBSTER TERRACE

TEAL

ARCHITECTS
TEAL

MANUFACTURER
Equitone, Thermalwood, Vaproshield

CLADING SUPPLIER
Amos Wood

ENGINEERED ASSEMBLIES
Cladding Supplier

ALUMITECH
Window Supplier

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Campbell Comeau Engineering

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Special Projects Limited

SUBCONTRACTOR
Jetco Contracting Inc

AREA
3800 ft²

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

Webster Terrace was a distinguished modern movement house built in three stages. It had an open plan living/dining/kitchen with a distinctive sloped ceiling extending into a mono slope cantilevered roof.

Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer
Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer
Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer

The Client wished to open the main floor as much as possible and build a second storey with two bedrooms, each with a bathroom. The main challenges were to: 

· Add a second storey while keeping the house weather proof 
· Ive even more presence to the spatial qualities of the large sloped ceiling plane

· insert new heating, cooling, power, plumbing, communications and entertainment systems 

Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer
Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer

· improve the energy performance of the envelope and systems 
· use contemporary, high performance materials with zero edge details

TEAL's response to the first challenge was to devise an 'eye of the needle' structural strategy that threaded the new steel structure through minimal openings in the roof, immediately sealing them the same day.

The new floor is suspended over the existing sloped roof plane, creating a useful storage space underneath. The new upper deck is also structured to hover over the old roof

The second challenge was met by removing most of the walls on the main level, exposing the diagonally sloping ceiling plane even more than before and creating a set of wide stairs that serve as a gathering seats for entertainment.

Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer
Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer

The envelope of the existing house was stripped internally and both the old and new walls were insulated with high-performance spray foam.

All windows are new, aluminum-framed with thermal breaks. Zero-edge glass detailing on the corners at both levels reveals stunning southern views of Halifax's North-West Arm ocean inlet.

The exterior cladding is a combination of zero-maintenance thermal wood and fiber cement panels with no exposed fasteners on the entire house.

Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer
Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer
Webster Terrace
© Riley Smith Photographer

The landscape is zero maintenance river pebbles, allowing maximum permeability for the site.

The house was a daring and contemporary form in its younger days and it has been rejuvenated with expanded spaces with improved access to views, a sleek twenty-first-century form and materials detailed in the most minimal manner


Webster Terrace
AXONOMETRY


Webster Terrace
Level 1
Webster Terrace
Terrace Plan Level 2
Webster Terrace
Terrace Plan Level 1


Webster Terrace
East Elevation
Webster Terrace
South Elevation
Webster Terrace
West Elevation


Webster Terrace
South North Section

TEAL Architects
T +1 902 489 5080
TEAL Architects
13150 Peggys Cove Rd, Upper Tantallon, NS B3Z 4B2, Canada