When Molly Bell decided to build her house, her vision began with what she didn’t want.
“No air conditioning,” she says firmly. “I think it is a dreadful invention.”
With that in mind, her first want was for her house to be oriented on an east-west axis, the large living and dining room “breezeway” allowing natural cooling.
“At the end of the day, I can always stand in here and feel my hair ruffle from the breeze,” she says.
With a vaulted ceiling, large circular window on the west wall and high panels of clerestory windows down its length, the room is suffused with light and air. When walking into this room, the feeling is one of taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, as though to shake off stressful daily life and relax.
Bell wanted the interior to be something modern, but not boxy — she wanted some feminine curves. Architect Bernd Hermanski designed the unique curved centre roof, and echoed the theme through the interior with archways and round pillars. The “breezeway” of the house, is then flanked with wings, one side being the kitchen and the other housing a laundry room, bathroom, walk-through closet and bedroom, which steps out onto the spacious covered deck.
“This is a design where the form completely followed function,” says Hermanski.
The house incorporates green elements including geothermal heating (for a total energy bill of $150 a month) in addition to the energy-efficient design. Bell also made a commitment to using local products as much as possible, right down to her “endless pool.” Located in the basement, where it was lowered into place by crane, it looks like an elongated hot tub. But when started up, the motor creates a current that keeps the swimmer in place, much like a treadmill.
In addition to expressing complete happiness with the design, Bell sings the praises of her builder Trevor Harrison.
“I always say he is the only builder I know who came in ahead of schedule, under budget and we were still friends at the end.”
The superb craftsmanship, she believes, came from the home’s uniqueness being posed as a creative challenge to the tradespeople’s skills.
“Good-quality work just kept building upon itself,” says Bell of the 1,470 square foot residence.
Built in 2006, the home is a unique feature of the neighbourhood, with it’s bold terra-cotta colour, (Bell says men call the colour pink, women orange, but the actual colour name is flowerpot). The modern design, which some people suggest has a Mexican or Mediterranean influence, also features complementing cement garden walls surrounding a garden that is based completely on edible or medicinal plants. Outside the wall, on city property, is a xeriscaping demonstration garden using native plants which require no watering. Her deck also features a full-sized suit of armour she fondly calls Norbert, who has become a neighbourhood conversation piece.
“I know it’s not the usual, but neither am I,” she says with a hearty laugh. “Fortunately, I usually only hear from the people who like it.”
