UUfie's Ontario chalet renovation blends architecture with nature
The Toronto studio transformed a 1970s chalet into a four-level home that follows the slope of its wooded site.
1Slope-responsive design
Toronto-based studio UUfie renovated a 1970s chalet on a steep, wooded site in Ontario. Spanning 3 acres, Belfountain House preserves the northern part of the original structure while transforming the southern portion within the existing footprint. A single elongated roof unites the two sections, following the terrain's slope. The architects aimed to make the house feel 'shaped by the land rather than an object placed upon it,' creating seamless integration with the natural surroundings.
2Hike-inspired interior flow
The 4,628-square-foot house fits four levels within a 2,561-square-foot footprint, organized around circulation along the slope. 'We imagined the experience like a hike, with spaces unfolding through gradual transitions and changing views,' said co-founder Eiri Ota. Instead of enclosed rooms, the interior functions as a continuous landscape, with open tiers cascading down the hillside. This design creates dynamic spatial relationships throughout the home.
3Multifunctional net divider
One of the home's most striking features is a suspended net separating dining and lounge areas from the hallway below. This innovative element serves as both a spatial barrier and a playful hammock. The studio explains, 'The net introduces porosity and transparency while transforming the sectional experience.' Upper levels contain bedrooms and family spaces, while lower levels feature open recreational areas connected by dueling staircases.
4Material balance and natural light
The material palette balances softness with ruggedness - reclaimed elm wood contrasts with large-aggregate concrete floors, while red steel beams create graphic counterpoints to wooden rafters. Polycarbonate walls filter light into guest rooms, and expansive glazing highlights the interior's unusual angles. Outside, white stucco and black wood forms connect through black metal railings and roof lines, creating a striking contemporary silhouette.
5Well-like guest room design
At the site's lowest point, a guest room features a steeply vaulted ceiling with a skylight, resembling a well. The sloped polycarbonate wall separating this suite diffuses light, creating a luminous atmosphere. Mid-levels house a sauna and gym, completing the home's wellness amenities. Throughout the house, skylights bring natural light into lower sections, enhancing the connection with the surrounding forest.
6UUfie's design philosophy
Founded in Tokyo in 2009 and based in Toronto since 2013, UUfie creates furniture, installations and architecture across residential, cultural and commercial sectors. Their portfolio includes a polycarbonate-walled medical clinic, a Shanghai boutique with pixelated glass facade, and a lakeside cottage with mirrored entrance. Co-founder Irene Gardpoit states, 'We want our houses to feel shaped by their sites rather than objects placed upon them,' reflecting their site-responsive approach.
7Sustainable material choices
The project emphasizes sustainable materials like reclaimed elm wood, while large-aggregate concrete floors provide thermal mass. Red steel beams serve structural and decorative purposes, creating visual contrast with wooden elements. This careful material selection achieves both modern aesthetics and natural warmth. The studio notes the palette was 'developed to balance refinement with rawness,' resulting in spaces that feel simultaneously polished and organic.
8Family-centric design solutions
A key goal was creating a home responsive to actual family living patterns. Flowing transitions between spaces, multi-level living areas, and functional details like the net divider serve this purpose. 'We wanted a house embedded in the landscape that adapts to a family's daily rhythms,' the architects explain. From the kitchen's layout to the recreation room's flexibility, every element supports contemporary family life while maintaining strong connections to nature.