The optical illusion is that you can reach the horizon from the window. The ice floes seem so close, as if they were going to swim right into your living room in a moment. However, you will not feel the freezing outside temperatures in the harsh climate of the North Atlantic in the house. Schüco plastic and aluminum window systems enable these incredible visual effects from the warmth of the home thanks to their excellent thermal insulation properties.
A house in harmony with its surroundings – this was the vision of New Yorker Kingman Brewster when planning a modern family home on the rugged coast of Fogo Island in Canada. The result is a building that combines the highest level of comfort with the beauty of nature.
Fogo Island (translated as Fogo means fire) is a somewhat surprising name: The island lies in the icy cold and harsh North Atlantic in the province of Newfoundland, and thus literally at the „end of the world“ – even by Canadian standards. The island measures 254 km² and is sparsely populated. The barren landscape is home to about 2,700 inhabitants, who live mostly in small wooden houses painted in bright colors. Houses on stilts with terraced piers along the coast are typical. Their design dates back to a time when cod fishing was the main source of income for local residents. Wooden structures built on stilts above the ocean were connected to the main dwelling and served as a space for processing and drying caught fish.
FAMILY CAME FOR A FEW MONTHS, STAYED PERMANENTLY
The new development in the village of Joe Batt’s Arm, designed and built by architect Kingman Brewster, is strikingly modern. Originally from New York, Brewster moved with his family from Brooklyn, NY to Fogo Island over a decade ago. Although they originally came there for just a few months, they stayed permanently. Since then, Kingman Brewster has respectfully combined his sense of modern design and comfort with the local native architecture, as evidenced by his house: The building is partly on stilts, so it floats slightly above the rocky landscape. On the one hand, these stakes are practical for building on uneven terrain, but at the same time they pay tribute to the typical wooden houses in which fishermen process their catch.
The small square windows are also reminiscent of the local architecture. They frame views from the inside like a passe-partout and illuminate interesting details in the vast landscape like spotlights. In contrast, large windows and sliding units provide an unobstructed view of the breathtaking surroundings and allow the rooms to be flooded with as much daylight as possible. Schüco window and sliding systems made of PVC-U and aluminum took care of this – ideal materials for the requirements of a demanding architect and harsh nature.
WINDOWS WITH EXCELLENT VALUES FOR A COMFORTABLE FEELING
Newfoundland is one of the coldest regions in Canada with an average daily temperature of just eight degrees. If the house is to be a cozy home, then a highly thermally insulated building envelope is a basic requirement – especially if the goal is an open design with as much transparency as possible. That is why the Schüco LivIng 82 AS PVC-U window system was chosen. With excellent thermal insulation values of the frame Uf = 1.0 W/(m²K) and the entire window Uw = 0.90 W/(m²K), Schüco LivIng systems create a sense of well-being – because even in the harshest winter, the internal temperature of the frame never drops significantly below room temperature . Thanks to the unique sealing technology, drafts and moisture condensation on the windows are effectively and permanently prevented.
The same applies to Schüco LivIng lift sliding systems made of PVC-U with thermal insulation parameters at the level of a low-energy house, which create a pleasant indoor climate. With a basic construction depth of 82 mm, a frame value of Uf = 1.3 W/(m²K) and high-quality insulating glass, Schüco LivIngSlide achieves excellent thermal insulation values of up to Uw = 0.80 W/(m²K). Due to the high level of resistance, the sliding system provides the best protection regardless of the weather conditions. The innovative sliding system with lift is also incredibly practical, it can be equipped with an electric drive, so that even large sliding units can be easily and conveniently opened and connected to a smart home. The zero threshold ensures absolutely easy access without the risk of tripping. The seal between the wing and the frame should be emphasized, as it runs all the way around in multiple levels and thus prevents the occurrence of drafts and condensation.
CRADLE TO CRADLE
Due to the rather windy weather on Fogo Island, large opening windows would be impractical, so in two places fixed elements with dimensions of 2.4 m x 2.8 m were preferred. The Schüco AWS 75.SI+ (Super Insulated) aluminum window system was chosen, which thanks to its particularly narrow profiles, it combines visual lightness with the high stability of aluminum. Despite its size, the Schüco AWS 75.SI+ window system is characterized by excellent thermal insulation with Uf values starting from 0.92 W/(m²K) at a basic depth of 75 mm. You will not feel the freezing temperatures in the interior at all, even if the snow seems close to the touch.