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Ten years ago, architect Malcolm Wildeboer stood on a remote plot of land in Ontario, looking out over the calm waters of a tree-ringed lake. Surrounded by hemlocks, with an open blue sky above him, he homed in on an ideal location for his client\u2019s future house. Near the waterfront, with the potential for lake views from every room\u2014yet secluded from neighbors\u2019 sight lines\u2014the spot had a natural clearing where Wildeboer envisioned a clean-lined contemporary structure built with minimal disturbance to the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s an incredible specimen forest of hemlock,\u201d says Wildeboer, cofounder of Ottawa\u2019s Vandenberg & Wildeboer Architects<\/a>, referring to the position near the lake. \u201cThe client and I share a deep passion for the outdoors, for the woods, so throughout the project we worked to protect the trees, which was paramount to him.\u201d<\/p>\n More from Robb Report<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cA disturbed site was viewed as a lost opportunity to showcase harmony with nature in our build,\u201d the homeowner says, noting that he and his family had been searching for a location for years before they found this roughly 20-acre property on which they planned a multiphase project with several new buildings. \u201cFrom the first walk of the site, it was clear that the perfect homestead location was, at last, discovered.\u201d<\/p>\n