When Michael Williams
approached his friend, JC Scott to design a glass waterfront
residence, an extraordinary structure was conceived.
The
Point, as the house came to be named, is a boldly modern
structure located on a property, which many consider
to be the most exclusive waterfront site on southern
Vancouver Island. The building is a series of
wings arranged in a triangle, each facing a different
aspect of a rocky point overlooking the Juan de Fuca
Straits.
The
structure created unique challenges because Victoria
is located in a seismically active zone. The client
would not allow cross bracing or sheer walls to impede
the 360-degree views. The final solution required
meticulous shop and site steel fabrication, there is
no visible bracing of any form.
Extensive
research across North America led to the final glazing
solution, which involved laminated low-E Thermal units
with special spacer bars designed to deflect with the
same co-efficent as the glass, under extreme wind loads.
Whistler
white granite is the only stone used for both the exterior
and interior. Massive solid blocks create the
main fireplace, flamed blocks form the exterior base
and polished slabs of the same stone line the showers
and are used for all kitchen and vanity counter tips.
Reclaimed clear Douglas Fir and quarter sawn white oak
for floors are used exclusively throughout the residence.
A
combination of computer modeled roof overhangs, motorized
blinds, automatic skylights and fifty seven climate
zones allows the house to remain comfortable without
air-conditioning or excessive heating year round.
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