Architecture as filter
Finding patterns in the portfolio of architect Rick Shean
While every structure has a job to do in terms of keeping out the elements, the houses designed by Rick Shean shine because they seem to slip into their surroundings, inevitably prioritizing the view outside over the details within.
“We see buildings as a filter for the light,” says Shean. “We want to soften the relationship between the structure and the outdoors — the trees, water, and sunshine.”
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture from Carleton University in 1998, Shean has quietly been building beautiful modern homes and cottages in Ottawa and beyond. In 2017, he struck out on his own with Shean Architects, bringing a minimalist approach and an eye for quality materials to the city’s modern scene. He’s been known to trek through snowy hillsides to gauge the light and generally prefers trees to curtains of any kind.
By spending quality time with a site before any designs are penned, he says, he can better know what aspects to enhance. “The spaces and rooms we find ourselves in are constantly changing,” says Shean. “We want to harmonize the interior choices with the conditions of the exterior. It’s architecture as a filter rather than a separator.”
On a rocky lakeside site, for example, a sleek cabin offers a subtle take on the glassed-in porch. Rather than high ceilings and an imposing, voluminous structure, the roofline mimics neighboring boulders, resulting in a cozy space to commune with nature.
At a very different lakeside property, mature trees and well established gardens drove the design. By cladding the rear addition in pale wood and glass, Shean let the light into a magnificent, but dark, house.
Closer to home, he’s sketching plans for a Centretown multi-unit residence that will enhance the entire block through its engagement with the existing alleyway. Red brick and arched windows strengthen the relationship between new developments and the much loved heritage of Centretown.
By bringing the interior and exterior closer together, these buildings, while grand, also bow to the beauty of nature, whether it be the history of the city or a woodsy view.