Header: doublespace photography
The Ridge House, designed by the architecture firm Superkül, sits tucked away between an open field and a dense forest in rural Ontario. Rather than sitting on top of the ground, the house is tucked into a natural slope. This clever positioning uses the hill to keep the home private and sheltered from the wind. Because the area has a high water table, the architects decided to skip building a basement. This choice kept the house dry and also meant they didn’t have to use nearly as much concrete, which is a big plus for the environment.
The roof that mimics the hills
The most noticeable part of the house is its massive, sculptural sloping roof. It looks less like a lid and more like a continuation of the grassy ground itself. This roof hangs far over the walls to create deep shade. These overhangs protect the huge, triple-glazed windows from the hot summer sun but let the lower winter sun shine deep inside to keep things warm. The roof also hides a clever secret: a rectangular cutout that sits directly over a private internal garden. This “open secret” allows light to pour into the middle of the house while wooden screens keep the space feeling tucked away.
Smart glass and fresh air
Inside, the house is built for people who want to feel like they are outside all year round. On the west side, glass accordion doors fold right back to open the living space to the forest. To keep the local insects out, the team installed retractable screens so the owners can keep the doors open even in bug season. This setup creates a natural breeze that cools the house down, meaning they rarely need to turn on the air conditioning. Outside the doors, a cantilevered walkway sticks out over the sloping ground, making you feel like you are floating just above the grass.
Monochromatic style and natural light
The owners wanted a quiet, calm atmosphere, so Superkül stuck to a simple palette of matte finishes and natural materials. The kitchen is a soft grey that matches the stone-coloured piers outside, making the transition between the patio and the indoors feel very natural. Throughout the main living and dining rooms, the architects placed skylights in a staggered pattern. These windows catch the light and bounce it off the curved plywood ceilings, filling the rooms with a soft glow rather than harsh, direct sunlight. Even the bathroom gets in on the action, looking out directly into the hidden courtyard garden.
Built for the Ontario winter
Since the weather in Ontario can be harsh, the Ridge House is built to be tough. The outside is clad in durable standing seam metal and siding that can handle heavy snow and rain. Inside, the cabinets and woodwork are made from marine-grade plywood, finished with a special coating that resists scratches and mould. For warmth, the house uses in-floor radiant heating powered by a cold-climate heat pump. This system works with an Energy Recovery Ventilator to keep the air fresh and the temperature steady without wasting energy or burning unnecessary carbon.
The Ridge House is a good example of how to build amodern home that respects its environment without sacrificing style. By putting the focus on the natural shape of the hill and using a smart, oversized roof, Superkül created a building that stays cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and stays hidden from the road. It just shows that high-performance tech and simple, raw materials can work together to create a home that feels solid and safe as well as light and breezy at the same time.
Project info
Architect: Superkül
Structural: Kieffer Structural Engineering
Mechanical: Fire House HVAC Designs Inc.
Contractor: J.W. Gordon Custom Builders Inc.
Landscape: Saraga Taylor Landscape Architects
Geotechnical: Terraprobe
Millwork: Coates Creek Cabinetry
Lighting: Dark Tools
Location: Grey County, Ontario, Canada
Completed: 2024
Photography: doublespace photography
Source: v2com newswire
