A modern house with large windows, surrounded by trees and set against a mountain background. In the foreground, people are sitting on a blanket on the sand near a stone border, with birds flying in the sky.

Longbeach House - balfour, bc

For generations, this lakefront house has looked down Kootenay Lake and up to a hanging valley, but stacked floors restrict view. The owners sought to open the house to its context, while improving performance. Primary technical considerations were solar shading, day lighting, and mechanical retrofit. The formal and envelope design grew in complexity as we resolved clumsy geometry of the original design.

 

location: balfour, bc

size: 4,950sf

status: phase 1 under construction

architect: austin hawkins

interior design: f2a architecture

contractor: f2a construction

back

A modern house situated in a natural landscape with trees, mountains, and a blue sky with clouds. There are seagulls flying in the sky and people sitting on a blanket on the sandy ground near a stone wall.
Modern house with large windows and outdoor deck, situated in a wooded mountain area with trees and snow-capped peaks in the background, and people walking dogs in the yard.
Garage render showing large timber columns, surrounded by trees and mountains.
A person in a hoodie and gloves is carving or sanding a large log outdoors near a lake with sailboats and mountains in the background, surrounded by colorful autumn trees.
Low-angle view of a garage assembly with a clear blue sky in the background.
Interior view of garage under construction, showing exposed wooden framing, ceiling joists, and some metal brackets attaching the beams.
F2a's construction crew at Longbeach House surrounded by wooden beams, scaffolding, and ladders, building a structure.
Existing rear at Longbeach House. Two-story house with an upper balcony and lower patio, surrounded by a grassy yard with trees, decorated with plants, outdoor furniture, and ornaments in a sunny setting.
Existing view of Longbeach House, with the lake in the background.
Existing rear view of Longbeach House. A two-story house with a large balcony on the upper level, surrounded by a green lawn and trees, with a partly cloudy sky above.