Contemporary House on the Bluffs by Taylor Smith Architects

Surrounded by majestic oak trees, House on the Bluffs is a beautiful 2,300-square-foot residence, finished in 2011 by Taylor Smith Architects. It is located along the Scarborough Bluffs in Ontario, Canada. The owners wanted their dream home to be built on the foundation of the wife’s childhood home from the ‘60s.

The new residence, however, had to be a contemporary-style dwelling, opened towards the lovely environment, and offering generous lake views. Since the available budget for this project was modest, the architects had to find different cost reducing measures, which they managed to do very well.

From the street, the house seems to be a “simple stucco box”, but things get really spectacular when looking at it from the backyard. Here, the two-story house suddenly becomes almost overwhelmingly transparent. The extensive use of glass also ensures a seamless transition from the contemporary interiors to the beautiful outdoor spaces.