Gort Scott

The Rock House

The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner

THE ROCK HOUSE

Gort Scott

ARCHITECTS
Gort Scott

PHOTOGRAPHS
Rory Gardiner

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Dürfeld Constructors

CATEGORY
House

YEAR
2020

MANUFACTURERS
Heath Ceramics, Aram Contracts, Cantu Bathrooms

CONCRETE CONTRACTOR
Bmak

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Hapa Collaborative

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Equilibrium

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS
Another View

LIGHTING CONSULTANT
EOS Lightmedia

M&E ENGINEER
MCW Engineers

MILLWORK CONTRACTOR
Leon Lebeniste & Krause Woodworking

CODE CONSULTANT
Kat Sullivan

AUDIO VISUAL CONSULTANT
Millson

BUILDING ENVELOPE ENGINEER
JRS

GLAZING CONTRACTOR
Glasbox

SWIMMING POOL
Alka Pool

AREA
4751ft2

LOCATION
Whisler, Canada

Text description provided by architect.

The Rock is a new private house in the Canadian mountain resort of Whistler, designed by London-based architectural practice Gort Scott.

The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner
The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner

The architectural aspiration for this scheme follows Frank Lloyd Wright’s assertion that: “No house should ever be on a hill. It should be of the hill. Hill and house should live together with each the happier for it”.

Rooted in the landscape, the building comprises a six-bedroom house and a two-bedroom guest house linked by an external terrace. Concrete blades rise from the rocky outcrop, enclosing open-plan living spaces between the dense concrete and a finely crafted timber structure above.

The experience of the site before construction was an incredible and unique moment for the client; as such the role of the architecture was to enhance the natural setting - revealing its drama and particularities.

The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner
The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner

Rather than overpowering the rock, the architecture deliberately highlights it; mindful of the visual impact, the architecture catches the eye of passers-by and places the rock crest at centre stage.

From exterior to interior, and from strategy to detail, this building is designed with human experience in mind. Internally, the journey through the building honours the original experience of moving through the unbuilt site towards the rock crest. Entering through the concrete lower levels, you are led slowly upwards through interconnected spaces. Along this journey, distinct living zones are designed around family life and positioned according to privacy, celebrated views, solar orientation and topography.

Subtle changes in levels and materials demarcate these ‘zones’- including a library, dining space, and kitchen - within the otherwise open-plan space. The material palette is deliberately refined, subtly varying between polished and board-marked concrete surfaces permitting shadow and light patterns to imbue the interconnected spaces with a series of different atmospheres and engage all the senses. The interior journey culminates in a generous living space at the rock peak, where glimpsed views through dense trees give way to panoramic views across Alta Lake.

Pursuing an ‘architectural expression of self’, the client initiated an invitation-only design competition, seeking a design that embodies: tranquil strength, privacy, respect for nature, human achievement and crucially a ‘harmonisation of contradictions’.

The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner
The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner

Early on, the architects spent a week observing the site - its light, topography, views, and weather extremes - from sunrise to sunset.

This deep understanding of site is translated into architecture that synthesises contradictory elements throughout: namely exposure and intimacy; openness and enclosure.

Concrete flows between external and internal surfaces, blurring the boundaries between the dwelling and the landscape. The internal timber linings are locally-sourced Hemlock, specified for reasons of sustainability and to subtly reference the Western Hemlock trees on site; further inviting the landscape to permeate the living spaces. Sustainable energy strategies and high-quality detailing ensure tranquillity throughout.

The envelope is built to Passivhaus standards, and a prefabricated timber panel system for the upper levels ensures utmost quality and environmental performance.Passive climate control strategies address the extreme climate variations without compromising design ambition. At every scale, from the building’s grounding in the landscape, to the minutiae of joinery detailing and bespoke fittings, the home celebrates material expression.

Without sacrificing its functionality as an enjoyable family home, the building transforms the site and demonstrates innovative ways of connecting architecture, landscape and the individual.

The Rock House
© Rory Gardiner


The Rock House
1st and 2nd floor plans
The Rock House
Basement and ground floor plans


The Rock House
Site plan
The Rock House
Elevation


The Rock House
Section
The Rock House
Section

Gort Scott
T +44 20 72546294
Gort Scott
55 Leroy St, London SE1 4SN, United Kingdom