Alchemy is the transmutation of a base material into something more valuable. A central principle of the Shor House, a family retreat and artists residency 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. The architect and owner spent years scouting for materials and working with deconstruction specialists to implement his zero-take approach to recycling. Much of the recycled wood seen on the floors & walls were deconstructed from the house and barn once sat on this waterfront site.
When new materials were needed, the firm specified only reclaimed materials from other nearby sites or local materials that could be further recycled in the future. Yellow cedar ties were found from a dismantled railroad on Vancouver Island which ran from 1917-2017, adding a legacy of character not to be obtained from any lumberyard. Wood for the exposed flooring and feature staircases were sourced from the former Turner Dairy in Vancouver.
The fireplace cowling, a cylinder of reclaimed steel from the coring of a bridge pile in Lytton, BC, was cut with strategic holes to foster heat distribution. Not only did the project focus on embodied energy, but the 32 solar panels housed on its roof have resulted in a net-zero, 0 GJ/year home that produces more energy than it consumes. The harvesting of site resources also displays itself in rainwater collection strategies, where collection tanks store water for fire suppression, irrigation and as an emergency water source.
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, sculpting a space for living with equal grace and power.
Category:ArchitectureYear:2024Location: Mayne Island, British Columbia, CanadaArchitects:Measured Architecture Inc.Design Team:Clinton Cuddington, Piers Cunnington, Patrick Gonzales, and James PapaGeneral Contractor: Powers Construction CompanyClient:PrivatePhotographers:Ema Peter and Bernardo Rodriguez