Elisa Nuyten Canada
Pictures Richard Powers
Words Dominic Bradbury
Designed by young Canadian architectural practice Atelier Kastelic Buffey, the chalet was commissioned as a weekend and holiday retreat by art collector Elisa Nuyten and her family. It sits opposite the nursery slopes and ski lifts of the Blue Mountains, allowing Elisa to keep an eye on her children from the balcony of the chalet as they practice their skiing.
The house, which replaced an earlier building, was designed in contemporary style, with a large, loft-like open plan living area on the upper level. This includes areas for lounging and dining, as well as neatly designed galley kitchen at the far end of the space, which also conceals a miniature, built-in home office. Large expanses of glazing and elevated verandas offer connections with the landscape, while materials and furniture suggest an organic, sophisticated and Scandinavian inspired aesthetic