haus MESS: Highwood River
Say "Alberta prairies" and most people picture a flat plot, hay bales, red barns and grain elevators. Our Highwood River project near High River has all of that, and then it surprises you.
The site sits on one of the most stunning riverbanks we've ever worked on, overlooking the Highwood River. From the kitchen and main living spaces, the view opens onto a dramatic cliff face and layered rock formations. Turn around, and the prairie is right there: open fields, big sky and red barns. Rural Alberta isn't lost here. It's a true Alberta beauty, and the house is designed to hold both views.
A design that moved like an accordion
Some projects move in a straight line. This one moved more like an accordion. The brief started as a 1,700 sq. ft. secondary suite. Several renditions later, it had become a 5,500 sq. ft. forever home. In between, the plan grew, shrank and grew again as we explored what this house really needed to be.
Finding the real brief
Every version taught us something. Each time the house expanded or contracted, we were really asking the same question: what is this home for? When the answer came, it was clear. This isn't just a house for a couple. It's a legacy home, a place to gather their kids and grandkids, and one to be passed down for years to come.
Once we understood that, the design found its footing. The house became the family's mecca for entertaining: a multi-generational home built around long tables, big gatherings and room for everyone to land.
Designing around a collection
Our client is an antique dealer, and their cherished pieces were never going to be an afterthought. They became a critical part of the design process. Rather than choosing furniture to fit the rooms, we shaped rooms, walls and sightlines around the pieces that matter most.
That's also why this home looks so different from the mid-century modern work we're known for. We took the Highwood River house in a more traditional architectural direction, one that pays homage to the antiques at its heart and gives each piece the setting it deserves.
The final stretch
After all that growing and shrinking, the house is now in its finishing stages. The mess is giving way to details, and the moment this collection finally settles into its forever home is getting close. Follow along here in haus MESS for the last few steps, and when the dust settles, we'll share the finished legacy home in haus WORKS.
Comments