Winter Avenue House

Winter Avenue Residence – A Contemporary Home Rooted in the Landscape of Historic St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The Winter Avenue Residence is a contemporary home shaped directly by its unusual site—a pie-shaped, sloping lot on the edge of Old St. John’s. With mature trees, two bordering streets, and a historic laneway defining its perimeter, the property offered both challenges and opportunities. The design works with these conditions rather than against them, resulting in a house that feels grounded in its landscape and context.

The three-storey form follows the natural grade, using the full-storey elevation change between the two streets as an organizing principle. Each level takes advantage of its position on the slope, creating a series of spaces that feel distinct yet connected.

The upper floor sits among the treetops, where an open living, kitchen, and dining area opens onto a large deck. From here, long views reach toward Rennie’s River and downtown, giving the space a calm, elevated quality. The middle level establishes the main entrance and contains the primary suite, a generous office, and direct access to the garage. Its layout balances privacy with practicality, creating a clear and welcoming sequence into the home. The lower level is designed for family life, with children’s bedrooms, a flexible guest/den space, and a family room that steps out to the sheltered lower garden, framed by the site’s oldest trees.

Two vertical openings bring daylight deep into the house and create visual links between the floors. The main stair highlights the home’s layered openness, while a second double-height space connects the living room to the office below.

Rooted in the site’s topography and the character of its historic surroundings, the Winter Avenue Residence offers a contemporary approach to living that feels both grounded and quietly expressive.

Project Status: Complete 2024

Architectural Design: Chris Woodford, Devan Burry, Keita Foley-Tanaka