PODCASTS > Arcat Detailed Podcast Episode
123: Mast and Floor Plate Foundation | m.o.r.e. CLT Cabin
1h 15m 02s |
In this episode, Cherise is joined by Paul Kariouk, Principal at Kariouk Architects in Ottawa Ontario, Canada. They discuss the award-winning m.o.r.e. CLT cabin in Wakefield, Quebec, Canada.
Perched lightly above the rugged landscape, the m.o.r.e. CLT Cabin redefines the North American cottage. Unlike conventional lakeside retreats that mimic suburban comforts while claiming harmony with nature, this structure embraces a radical approach—one of genuine environmental responsibility. Rather than imposing itself onto the land, the cabin hovers above it, implementing an innovative mast and floor plate foundation with a minimal footprint.
Perched lightly above the rugged landscape, the m.o.r.e. CLT Cabin redefines the North American cottage. Unlike conventional lakeside retreats that mimic suburban comforts while claiming harmony with nature, this structure embraces a radical approach—one of genuine environmental responsibility. Rather than imposing itself onto the land, the cabin hovers above it, implementing an innovative mast and floor plate foundation with a minimal footprint.
Click here for the extended length interview on YouTube
Paul Kariouk is an American-Canadian whose office, Kariouk Architects, has completed projects throughout North America and the Caribbean. His dedication to excellence has earned him peer recognition from such professional bodies as the American Institute for Architects and the Ontario Association for Architects. In addition to his professional practice, Paul is a full Professor at the Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, where he extends his expertise to aspiring architects. Likewise, Kariouk Architects volunteers extensively with the community and not-for-profit organizations.
The paradigmatic North American cottage is romanticized as a wilderness log cabin. Nonetheless, typical cottages are "woodsy" versions of suburban homes with every modern convenience. These buildings sustain the myth that appearing to be one with the land equates to a reduced impact on the environment.
The m.o.r.e. Cabin inverts this idea through a separation from the landscape that is more sustainably constructed than other cottages. This unravelling of eco-fictions is not cynical, but optimistic: while organic environments are being degraded, what remains can be engaged more responsibly.
To this end, m.o.r.e. Cabin touches the land lightly through:
Photos/Drawings/Supplemental Info:
- Photo Credit: Scott Norsworthy
- Photo Credit: Kevin Belanger
- Drawings Credit: Kariouk Architects
- Podcast Production: Gabl Media Group, Inc.
Paul Kariouk, Principal, Kariouk Architects
Paul Kariouk is an American-Canadian whose office, Kariouk Architects, has completed projects throughout North America and the Caribbean. His dedication to excellence has earned him peer recognition from such professional bodies as the American Institute for Architects and the Ontario Association for Architects. In addition to his professional practice, Paul is a full Professor at the Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, where he extends his expertise to aspiring architects. Likewise, Kariouk Architects volunteers extensively with the community and not-for-profit organizations.
Project Name and Location: m.o.r.e. CLT Cabin, Wakefield, Quebec, Canada
The paradigmatic North American cottage is romanticized as a wilderness log cabin. Nonetheless, typical cottages are "woodsy" versions of suburban homes with every modern convenience. These buildings sustain the myth that appearing to be one with the land equates to a reduced impact on the environment.
The m.o.r.e. Cabin inverts this idea through a separation from the landscape that is more sustainably constructed than other cottages. This unravelling of eco-fictions is not cynical, but optimistic: while organic environments are being degraded, what remains can be engaged more responsibly.
To this end, m.o.r.e. Cabin touches the land lightly through:
- Interpreting the law creatively to uphold its principles.
- Reducing foundation size through a steel mast.
- Low-waste cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure.
- Achieving greater tensile strength through a "folded" structure.
- Off-grid power and high-efficiency heating.
- Creating a home for endangered bats.
Project Team List:
- General Contractor: GPL Construction
- Structural Engineer: Daniel Bonardi Consulting Engineers
- Heavy Timber Consultant: StyxWorks
- CLT, Glu-Lam, and Specialty Steel: Zublin Timber
Unique Products:
- Diamond Steel Shingles – Diamond Steel Roofing
- Doors and Windows – Elite
- Interior Walls & Ceiling (3-ply CLT) – Zublin Timber
- Wood Fireplace – Stuv
- Marmoleum Flooring – Forbo Flooring Systems
