Welcome to our gallery featuring the Dolomites house, a custom design by  JM Architecture situated in the Dolomite Mountain borderland between Italy and Austria.

The idea of remodelling this house was borne from an uncomfortable living situation. The existing building presented a very large and tall entry hall with the rooms surrounding, necessitating a walk through it to move around the house. On the ground floor, the kitchen, dining room, living room, and the stube were not proportioned to the size of the house and couldn’t get enough light.

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For this reason the entire ground floor has been demolished, and a new interior clear glass envelope with a drywall insert is now the only separation among the different spaces. Few new volumes have been added around the house to extend the entry hall and the oversized family room, which include dining, relaxing, and study areas.

To allow the maximum amount of light into the rooms, the façades have been replaced by a custom designed structural silicon curtain wall, with base and head mullions flush with the floor and ceiling, and large pop-out sliding doors to create interaction between indoor and outdoor. Because of very low temperatures in winter, the heating solution is a combination of radiant floor heating, perimeter floor radiators along the curtain wall, a gas see-through-the-outside fireplace, and a standard wood fireplace.

The house is controlled by a fully automated iBus system, with particular attention given to the audio video equipment, which includes invisible speakers embedded in the walls and ceilings of different areas. Almost everything has been custom designed, from the entire kitchen to the tables, desks, gas and wood fireplaces. Since maple wood isn’t stable with radiant floor heating, the floor planks were custom built with 2.5mm Canadian maple top and back layers on a particleboard. The 20cm width of the floor planks modulates the position of all the elements, from the walls to the millwork.

A 2.5m tall wooden wall with horizontal slats, emphasizing the perspective and casting shadows, encloses the garden. A wood deck made of 14cm wide Ipe wood planks surrounds the house, runs up a sunbathing platform with a Jacuzzi inserted, and covers two long desks.

The sun shading system runs on tracks inserted in steel beams, visually extending the interior ground floor ceiling. A steel framed wood canopy on one side allows one to relax outdoors on a rainy day.

View of outdoors sitting area under retractible sunshade canopy.
View of outdoors sitting area under retractible sunshade canopy.
Long view of deck with canopy, glass walls and see-through fireplace.
Long view of deck with canopy, glass walls and see-through fireplace.
Opposite view of deck area, highlighting the white and metal couch and chairs, shelve-style seating and large glass doors.
Opposite view of deck area, highlighting the white and metal couch and chairs, shelve-style seating and large glass doors.
View at night highlighting extended canopy, lit-up shelf seating area, and view indoors.
View at night highlighting extended canopy, lit-up shelf seating area, and view indoors.
Jacuzzi area featuring rock garden and Japanese-style seating around.
Jacuzzi area featuring rock garden and Japanese-style seating around.
Corner view of garden surrounded by wall with horizontal slats.
Corner view of garden surrounded by wall with horizontal slats.
Here's a shot of the ultra modern kitchen, all-white with light hardwood flooring.
Here’s a shot of the ultra modern kitchen, all-white with light hardwood flooring. Lighting embedded in cupboards.
View down length of dining area with living room in background.
View down length of dining area with living room in background. Sunshades built into ceiling extend down left side.
Close-up view of the living room, showcasing the built-in media area with swivel mounted tv, gas fireplace, white pillars and furniture.
Close-up view of the living room, showcasing the built-in media area with swivel mounted tv, gas fireplace, white pillars and furniture.
Here is a second angle on the living room, highlighting the large white pillars and white couch and ottoman set.
Here is a second angle on the living room, highlighting the large white pillars and white couch and ottoman set. Office area can be seen in background.
This is a view of the living room without any furniture, showing off the light natural wood flooring and wide open layout.
This is a view of the living room without any furniture, showing off the light natural wood flooring and wide open layout.
Living room angle showing off embedded lighting in walls.
Living room angle showing off embedded lighting in walls.
Here's a second living room with unique couch/ottoman furniture and wall-embedded light sources.
Here’s a second living room with unique couch/ottoman furniture and wall-embedded light sources.
Second view of same room, highlighting built-in shelf space and large art pieces.
Second view of same room, highlighting built-in shelf space and large art pieces.
Hallway shot showcasing built-in ceiling lighting, glass doors and open skylights.
Hallway shot showcasing built-in ceiling lighting, glass doors and open skylights.
Second hallway angle showcasing glass walls, embedded lighting, and large art pieces.
Second hallway angle showcasing glass walls, embedded lighting, and large art pieces.
Simple white wall highlighting driftwood sculptures.
Simple white wall highlighting driftwood sculptures.
Common area replete with large white pillars, light hardwood flooring and skylights in corner.
Common area replete with large white pillars, light hardwood flooring and skylights in corner.
Hallway featuring large expanses of glass set against smooth white surfaces, with corner office area in background.
Hallway featuring large expanses of glass set against smooth white surfaces, with corner office area in background.
Close-up of corner office space. All-white theme continues.
Close-up of corner office space. All-white theme continues.

 

floorplan

Biography for JM Architecture

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(c) 2015

Jon Dykstra owns an interior design company in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He's fascinated by architecture and interiors. He also enjoys gardening at his "house in the burbs" and "homesteading" at his off-the-grid boat-access cabin.

Combine all that with a love of writing and Homestratsophere.com was born. He balances his working time between running his interior design company, working on his off-the-grid cabin and publishing homestratosphere.com.

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