At 13 Crestwood Drive is a design-focused contemporary home by Toronto-based Ancerl Studio. The project is situated on a sloping hillside in the North Shore neighbourhood on the boundary between Barrie and Oro-Medonte in Canada. The design adheres to the context immaculately with mature hardwood trees overlooking the northern shore of Kempenfelt Bay. Ancerl Studio, founded by Nicholas Ancerl, is based in Toronto’s North York.

The brief given to the architects called for a luxury three-storey dwelling for resale on a vacant lot. The architecture of the Crestwood Residence is defined by its striking contemporary form, materiality and responsible design. The studio mentions, “The triangular, sloping wooded lot was a key challenge. We solved this by creating a building that steps back to follow the natural contour and topography of the site, minimising disruption to the existing landscape”.

The home has been carefully placed into the hillside, creating minimal disruption to the natural landscape and the surrounding wood lot. All direct sightlines from the street into the property have been minimised. In contrast, the rear side of the building is a light permeable façade that maximises the spectacular vistas framing the forest and the lake. This maintains the owner’s privacy while also creating an openness, making the home comfortable, intimate and filled with natural light.

“From approaching the home and walking through its grand foyer, to savouring its numerous views connecting the home to nature, the Crestwood Residence has created a living experience that is comfortable, inspiring and effortless. Each space in the home has been embedded with special moments to experience,” says the team at Ancerl Studio. The foyer greets one with light from a 30-foot opening that contains the staircase and a large window that further illuminates the spaces. A continuous connection with nature has been maintained through thoughtful design decisions such as the living room's 20-foot-tall sliding wall system, or the glass walled elevator, which provides forest views to the bedrooms on the upper levels.

Unique and intriguing residential design maximises comfort, minimises excessive materials and connect the home to its natural surroundings. The hidden details of the home have been constantly kept in mind, such as creating a flooring that radiates warmth or the hot water recirculation system that provides instant hot water when any faucet is opened. Natural materials have been carefully used without excess. These details complement each other to create a home that is calm, cosy and energising.

Having elegantly fused with its natural surroundings, the Crestwood Residence is a tranquil abode that appears to be peacefully at home within its natural habitat.

Project Details

Name: Crestwood Residence
Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Project size: 4300 sqft
Site size: 5470 sqft
Completion date: 2020
Architecture and Design: Ancerl Studio