Liminal House: McLeod Bovell (100x100 Building Monograph 021)

Description

The liminal is a transformational state between where something begins and ends; the moment where different elements meet, mix, and merge. The Liminal House straddles a similar threshold between West Vancouver's natural stony seashore and its suburban residential neighborhood. Courtyards, cantilevers, and the extension of floor area over exterior space dismantle the boundaries between the house and the natural environment in which it exists through a strategy of mixing and merging in which light is reflected and landscapes are welcomed into the interior of the home, collapsing traditional readings of interior space. The house is animated by the ever-changing outdoor atmosphere; expansive walls of sliding glass open onto a dark pool that reflects and extends the environment near the ocean. Concrete, black stained Accoya wood, and coated aluminum plating are the only exterior materials as they are tough and long-wearing to withstand the harsh environmental conditions.