Lakeview Residence

This mid-century styled home uses brick in both the interior and exterior to blend to enforce the sense of inside/outside living. The home is in a mature urban neighbourhood where privacy is a concern. The use of flanking brick walls helps provide the required privacy and as an added benefit interest and light.

Keel Architectural Products provided Randers Tegl Ultima RT 161 brick from Europe. The unique brick size resonated with the client as it is reminiscent of the long bricks often used in mid-century homes and reinforces the horizontal emphasis used throughout the design. The brick is very long, approximately 20”, and all bricks are solid, which are conducive to the lattice/hit and miss walls. The brick is challenging to work with so craftsmanship is evident. The masonry’s visual interest begins on the driveway where brick planters and the ‘hit and miss’ walls become focal points. These walls have multiple functions: ensuring privacy, light filtration by day, which transforms into visual interior interest by night.
The brick coursing closest to grade is staggered in depth creating a sequencing of protruding and receding brick which adds texture and depth – this aesthetic is also seen on the interior and exterior fireplace walls creating visual continuity.

Up lighting the exterior brick creates a sense of interest from the interior of the home as the windows stop being reflective and the exterior up lit walls draw your gaze beyond the glass.