“Don’t destroy a lot’s beauty by forcing the home to live smack dab in the middle of it.”
Tree cover
We tried to locate our buildings where trees were not.
Of course, Spirit Bay is in a forest, and many lots have trees on them. So wherever possible, we tried to site the homes to exist side by side with the trees.
This added a charming effect—most of the homes at Spirit Bay are not lined up side by side in a predictable matrix. Instead, they tend to angle in irregular patterns. This reflects the building style of classic villages, where citizens lived in their surroundings, instead of in a mathematical pattern.
Setbacks
Most modern homes are located square on their lot, with equidistant space to each side fence, a smaller front yard and larger back yard. This geometrical consistency has absolutely no human merit.
What we’re trying to do at Spirit Bay is consider the surroundings, and build our homes to maximize both their outdoor space and environmental features, and create a harmony between home and setting.
So, as in the drawing, you may have two homes closely located at 90º angles to one another.
Or a home snug to the front of its property line. What’s important is that each home maximizes its useable outdoor space, while coexisting with its natural environment and neighbours.
Paul Merrick, Architect
Leave a Comment