Cherry Valley Rammed Earth Home

Project Duration:	2021 – 2024
Project Location:	Prince Edward County, ON
Size:	2,800 sf
Keywords:	Rammed Earth Single-Unit Residential High Performance Building Nordic Minimalism

Project Description

This private residence and guesthouse design was inspired by the site, the client goals of having a minimalist and beautiful home that was also high performance, as well as ancient stone monolithic structures. These principles come together to create a building with a timeless and considered presence on the site. The project is constructed from stabilized rammed earth in variegated light cream colours, and shaped to harvest the sun in winter/fall and shelter the building in the summer from the hot sun. A feeling of solidness from the rammed earth walls is offset by plentiful sunlight from windows, skylights, and clerestory windows.

The main house is separated from the guesthouse by a covered breezeway and carport and three-season screened porch. On the south side of the home is a perennial herb and flower garden, while on the north side there is a small fruit and nut tree orchard.

Rammed earth is an extremely durable material, with a lifespan in excess of 200 years. It has a low embodied energy, non-toxic materials, a high thermal mass, and an extremely beautiful and customizable appearance.

The main living, dining and kitchen area features wrap-around windows on the south and west wall with subtle chamfers around the windows and on the corners to create a rich-palette of light-effects and shades. The overhangs are designed to keep the hot summer sun out, and let the winter sun stream inside.

The interior design involves exposed rammed earth walls and white oak paneling with natural wood beams and columns. The colour palette throughout was inspired by the work of the Nordic Minimalists found in Sweden and Denmark, who through careful design, evoke beauty with simple natural materials. This results in a calming and authentic experience for the homeowners and guests.

The integrated team approach we used on this project lead to a very efficient and timely design and permitting process. Permits where issued and Construction Fall 2022 and is expected to be complete in one year.