LONGHOUSE

a RURAL MODERN Residence

by SOMA Studio

"We believe in the integrity of materials, the skill of hand craftsmanship and the vision of timeless contemporary design."

LONGHOUSE_2024

After over 25 years of designing and building residential homes in Toronto, we were excited by the idea of creating and developing a series of private Rural Modern residences. These would be all-season country houses with waterfront acreage, spaces in tune with the landscape and the natural environment. A place to unwind with family and friends. - Linda Corbett & Andrew Fee_SOMA Studio

At the end of a tree-lined drive in a private meadow on the Napanee River, sits LONGHOUSE.

The six-and-a-half acre property is bordered by century-old Maple and Bur Oak trees and traversed by a stream and natural spring that cascades over limestone boulders to the river below. Across the water is the Cataraqui Trial Conservation Area.

LONGHOUSE, was the first Rural Modern Residence designed and built by Andrew Fee of SOMA Studio.

"Classics outlive trends enriching their patina over time."

Andrew Fee's design for LONGHOUSE was inspired by the vernacular architecture of barns and historical limestone structures surrounding Kingston, Ontario (the Limestone City) and the steeply pitched steel roofs of rural Quebec angled to remove the snow load of Canadian winters.

It's sleek contemporary silhouette incorporates traditional stone masonry, a timber frame main structure, 22 gauge standing seam steel roof, Maibec spruce wood siding and metal-clad exterior Douglas Fir windows from Loewen.

LONGHOUSE_2022

THE ORIGINAL LONGHOUSE

The original house, completed in 2022, had 4,828sf of living space. The Main House structure was a 30ft x50ft timber frame flanked by an adjoining flat-roof Main Entryway and a Principal Bedroom Suite extension with a pitched roof.

Its 2,789 s/f Main Floor has a 35 foot-high peaked ceiling featuring an open Kitchen, Living and Dining areas. In the Dining area 10 foot-high double doors and 2 foot-high transom windows above open onto a 1000 s/f Main Terrace overlooking the Napanee River.

The Primary Bedroom Suite has a 16 foot-high cathedral ceiling and two glass doors opening onto the Main Terrace and views. It includes a 5-piece Bathroom and large Walk-in Dressing Room.

A custom solid red oak open staircase links all three levels of the house. The Main Entryway has a stone slab step, terrace and solid mahogany custom door. The Mudroom Entryway has a terrace, stone Wind Wall and solid mahogany custom door. The two-piece Mudroom Powder Room vanity is rift-cut white oak.

The 750 s/f Loft houses 2 Queen-sized Bedrooms with Closets, a four-piece Shared Bathroom and a 28 foot long Gallery Space overlooking the Main Floor.

The Lower Level adds 2,039 s/f of finished living space. Its ICF foundation accommodates an 8 foot 6 inch unobstructed finished ceiling height. This level includes a Bedroom Suite with two large windows, a Sitting Room, 3 piece Ensuite Bathroom and a large Walk-in Closet. Two white oak interior windows with privacy glass translate the natural light from the Bedroom Suite to the adjoining Family Room. The Lower Level also houses a Laundry Room, Wellness Room, Utility Room and Hallway.

Landscape features include a cantilevered glass-panelled River Porch offering a secluded nature lookout on the Napanee River with a view ofthe Cataraqui Trail Conservation Area on the opposite shore. A Timberframe Carport with steel roof to accommodate two cars.

All interior millwork was designed and built exclusively for LONGHOUSE by SOMA Studio and including the door and window surrounds, are all hand-finished in a curated palette of Belgian eco-stain colours.

The walnut panelled Main Entryway features a walnut Slat-Screen Archway. The Principal Bedroom vanity is also walnut. The Kitchen, Principal Dressing Room and Mudroom Closets are all rift-cut white oak as are the Lower Level Ensuite Bathroom vanity and the Loft Bedroom vanity.

Contemporary slab Italian porcelain tile was chosen for the Main Floor and and Bathrooms for beauty and durability. The white oak engineered floor is German. The Belgian-engineered STUV wood-burning fireplace surround is white oak with Spanish handmade tile. Quality appliances include WOLF_SubZero, Asko and Sharp.

Pale blue grey hand-finished walnut panelled foyer room with matching decorative slatted doorway surround

Living room_kitchen view with 35 foot high ceiling.

STUV wood-burning fireplace with custom porcelain tile and white oak surround.

View of the living_dining area with ten foot high double doors opening onto the terrace.

A skylight above shines down on an open riser custom red oak staircase leading up to the Loft Level.

Night view from outside on the terrace through the 10-foot-high double doors into the Main Floor.

Raising the Timber Frame.

BUILDING LONGHOUSE

The engineered timber frame Main Structure was custom built in a shop where joints were cut, fitted and pegged for maximum strength. The building elements were then assembled and raised onsite upon an Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) foundation.

Shop build of the engineered timber frame structure

Shop build of the engineered timber frame structure

Assembling the structure piece by piece.

Assembling the structure piece by piece.

Skids of limestone block were hand-picked from a local Kingston quarry. The blocks were individually cut in the quarry cutting shop to create the traditional "ashlar" rough-hewn face.

Next, a team of stone masons meticulously trimmed and hand fit each stone wrapping both the entire building foundation and the massive chimney. On the west side of the house they built a freestanding feature "window wall" with a 200 pound lintel above.

Building the feature Window Wall

Building the feature Window Wall

LONGHOUSE Extension_Custom steel roof, Maibec cladding, Loewen windows

LONGHOUSE exterior cladding features a custom steel roof, formed from 22 gauge steel to produce a standing seam finish. Inside the house all the floors are custom-laid Italian porcelain. All staircases are hand-made red oak.

All cabinetry was custom made and fitted onsite by SOMA Studio specifically for the project. All doors are solid core with ball bearing hinges and stainless steel passage hardware.