This hermetic house after all is a box of natural light and secret gardens

Homes designed as a refuge respond to an increasingly common need: finding calm in the middle of the city. Unlike many houses created to “show off” and impress, this type of architecture places intimacy, silence and a sense of protection at the forefront.
But it is not just about building high walls. The idea is to create spaces capable of isolating you from the pace of the outside world without giving up light, gardens or a full domestic life.
That is exactly the concept that a house called Arthur Residence, in Canada, seeks — and manages — to embody.

James Brittain
A discreet block
Designed by the Canadian studio 5468796 Architecture, Arthur Residence is located near the centre of Regina, the capital of the province of Saskatchewan, in Canada. The neighbourhood, until recently made up mainly of small bungalows, is rapidly changing with the arrival of larger and more conventional homes.

James Brittain
Faced with this trend, the owners, David and Jane Arthur, were looking for something different: a private, quiet house protected from direct exposure to the street, a discreet refuge with plenty of space for intimacy and for “switching off” from the outside world.
The studio responded with a home conceived as a “reflective alternative” to the usual development model in the area. The long and narrow plot ultimately shaped the solution. Instead of leaving behind small residual side patios, the architects decided to occupy almost the entire available width with a compact two-storey volume with a basement, clad in a mixture of concrete and stucco.

James Brittain
With this layout, the house appears from the street as a closed and silent mass. The fence and the façade seem to form a single piece, reinforcing the idea of protection. “The fence and wall merge together so that, from the sidewalk, the house presents itself as a solid block, with a path leading to a single opening,” explains the team.
However, this hermetic appearance changes completely as soon as you enter. The house opens inward through courtyards and small gardens that bring in natural light.
Hidden gardens
The main floor concentrates the common areas: living room, dining room and kitchen, as well as a garage placed at the back of the plot.
The living room is one of the house’s most expressive spaces, thanks to a vaulted ceiling that amplifies both the sense of height and the feeling of cosy shelter.

James Brittain
Large floor-to-ceiling glazed openings connect the rooms to the interior gardens, creating an intimate relationship with nature without compromising privacy. The finishes reinforce this serene atmosphere with smooth stucco walls, concrete flooring and a restrained palette that allows light and texture to take centre stage.
According to the studio, these materials enhance “the sensory qualities of material, space and light that define the essence of the house. The subtle and cohesive atmosphere creates the perfect setting to unwind after long days in high-pressure professions.”

James Brittain
On the upper floor there are two en-suite bedrooms, each accessible by its own staircase. One leads from the entrance hall to the guest bedroom; the other directly connects the kitchen to the main suite.
This level was planned as a protected retreat, with discreet views over the neighbourhood and the surrounding tree canopies.
The curved stucco and plaster walls, together with the triangular timber-framed windows manufactured by the owner himself, give the project a handcrafted and highly distinctive character.

James Brittain
The basement includes an independent two-bedroom apartment with its own access from the street.
“This additional unit allows for a more efficient use of the plot and gives the Arthurs flexibility to generate rental income or accommodate multiple generations of the family under the same roof,” explains the studio.