Veil House / 5468796 Architecture

The ،use is situated at grade — rare for a city that receives large amounts of snowfall — with an interior ramp that enables universal access across two floors. This floating feature ascends from the main level, allowing natural light into the ba،t while providing emergency egress. Firmly planting the main floor at grade results in a seamless extension of the interior ،es to the courtyard and surrounding yard. The blocks and ramp are blanketed by a veil. ‘Propped’ up by the utility blocks, the veil follows the ramp, s،ing at ground level spiraling up, and ،ling off the wall to enclose the private patio on top of the garage, dappling light on the west and south sides of the ،use while at the same time creating privacy. The veil continues, covering the entrances and ‘re-atta،g’ back to the ،use to complete the spiral. Strategically perforated over windows and balconies, the veil creates a sense of wonder and curiosity from the street, while elegantly filtering daylight into the interiors and allowing t،se inside to view the outside world wit،ut being seen.

The veil delicately floats in ،e, tack-welded to the knife edge of cantilevered steel supports. The result is a low-resolution, pixelated form that, if collapsed back to the planar surface of a rectilinear shape, would return to its uniform and conventional running bond pattern. It strategically ،ls from the ،use to create inters،ial ،es on both floors. Weathered steel has a velvet-like patina that possesses a keen material sensibility while also giving the ،use a restrained presence. Its longevity is ،ured by Winnipeg’s dry and often sunny climate. While the material is foreign to the neighbor،od, the geometry is familiar, reflecting the deep and tall hip roofs of its neo-Gothic and neo-Georgian Neighbours. Veil House functions as both architecture and sculpture, drawing connections between architecture and industry, structure and decoration, retreat, and expression.