Alchemy is the transmutation of a base material into something more valuable. A central principle of the Shor House on Mayne Island is a kind of alchemical transformation of dis-used wood obtained from multiple sources. Just as the most energy efficient building is conserving one already built, the most progressive edge of designing with wood is to recycle it into continued use. The Shor House demonstrates that careful deconstruction of wooden buildings, then refinishing and recombination of their parts into considered assemblies extends the life-cycle of material otherwise destined for landfill. This is the new leading edge of design in wood.
Much of the recycled lumber comes from the house and barn which once sat on this waterfront site. These two structures were unbuilt by a dismantling rather than demolition contractor. The cladding, floors and frame were captured so the patina of age and wear could lend authenticity for their reincarnation in the new house. It goes without saying that there are substantial energy savings in using wood that has never left the site. This project is a test bed of recycling—a zero-take approach.
The design team then extended their search for recycled materials further away from the site. Yellow cedar ties were found from the decommissioned 100-year-old Englewood Railroad on Vancouver Island. Additional lumber was sourced from the former Turner Dairy in Vancouver, for use throughout the house including the exposed NLT flooring and feature staircase. All adding a legacy of character not to be obtained from any lumberyard.
The house uses no drywall at all, as there is no way to recycle this constant candidate for landfill. The previously painted exterior cladding lines many interior walls, painted a standard white to reflect light while also parging over marks, knots and defects. There is new wood in the house, represented with a Shou Sugi Ban treatment, its low maintenance surface an analogue to the corten steel used outside.
Making gold out of lead was the ultimate goal for the alchemists, but at its basis, their magic was more spiritual than chemical. The alchemy of the Shor House is to build from a palette of otherwise discarded or under-used materials, shaping a dwelling that is grounded to site in its very materials, and the strong historical narratives that adhere to them. The house is a collage which imparts unexpected importance to its components, carefully proportioned and set in adjacency.
Distinction:Best Vacation Home 2023Category:Vacation HomesYear:2022Location:Mayne Island, British Columbia, CanadaArchitects:Measured Architecture Inc.Lead Architects:Clinton Cuddington, Clinton Cuddington & Piers Cunnington, Measured Architecture Inc. Design Team: Patrick Gonzales and James PapaContractor:Patrick Powers, Powers Construction, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaClient: Clinton CuddingtonPhotographer: Ema Peter and Bernardo Rodriguez
