Cervelo House

Evening view of the Cervelo House showing the angular canopy and illuminated glass facades framed by snow-covered trees

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A private residence in Toronto defined by a boldly faceted exterior of folded white planes and expansive glazing, designed by Asymptote Architecture to blur the threshold between contemporary living and the surrounding natural landscape.

Commissioned by Phil White and Anna Dopiko, the Cervelo House occupies a densely wooded suburban site in Toronto where mature trees form a continuous canopy around the property. The building’s exterior is composed of interlocking faceted planes clad in white composite panels, creating a sculptural volume that appears to have been carved and folded from a single monolithic block. Large triangular and trapezoidal glass surfaces are set into the folds of the facade, establishing a dynamic tension between opacity and transparency that shifts as one moves around the house and as light changes throughout the day and across seasons.

Interior Spaces

Inside, the faceted geometry of the exterior carries through into the spatial organization and ceiling planes of the interior. Open-plan living, dining, and kitchen areas occupy the ground level, unified by polished concrete floors and the continuous play of angled white surfaces overhead. A double-height living volume anchored by a sculptural fireplace serves as the heart of the home, while a glass-railed staircase ascends to the upper level of private bedrooms and studies. Floor-to-ceiling glazing on nearly every elevation dissolves the conventional wall, immersing inhabitants in panoramic views of mature trees and, in winter, a serene snow-covered landscape.

Design Approach

The design of the Cervelo House reflects Asymptote Architecture’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of residential typology through advanced computational design and digital fabrication techniques. The result is a dwelling that is at once bold and refined — a house whose complex exterior geometry belies the warmth and openness of its interior spaces, and whose relationship to its natural surroundings transforms with every season, making the landscape itself an integral part of the architectural experience.

Full exterior view of the Cervelo House in autumn with its complex faceted form rising among trees with golden foliage — The sculptural volume of the house emerges from its wooded site, its folded planes reflecting seasonal light

Open-plan living area with angular fireplace, grey sofas, and floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking a snowy forest — The main living space centers on a sculptural fireplace set within folded white walls, with views to the winter landscape beyond

Interior view of living and dining areas with faceted white ceiling planes, polished concrete floors, and panoramic forest views — Angular ceiling planes define the open living and dining zones, with expansive glazing dissolving the boundary between interior and landscape

Bright master bedroom with angular floor-to-ceiling windows framing dense green forest, minimal furnishings, and a built-in walnut desk — The master bedroom features dramatically angled window walls that bring the surrounding canopy directly into the room

Double-height living room with a glass-railed staircase, polished concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and forest views on all sides — A soaring double-height volume with a floating glass staircase connects the main living level to the upper private quarters

Summer view of the Cervelo House exterior showing the faceted white canopy, large glass panels, and surrounding green lawn — In summer the folded canopy casts deep shadows across the glazed ground floor, creating a dialogue between solid and void

Rear elevation of the Cervelo House with timber deck, outdoor seating area, and faceted white-paneled upper volume amid mature trees — The rear facade opens onto a timber deck, providing an intimate outdoor living area sheltered by the overhanging upper volume

Front facade of the Cervelo House in winter showing the integrated glass garage, stone base, and angular white upper form with snow-covered surroundings — The street-facing elevation presents a composed arrangement of stone, glass, and folded white panels with an integrated auto gallery

Aerial view of the Cervelo House revealing the complex roofscape of intersecting angular planes set within a lush green landscape — From above the interlocking roof planes read as an abstract composition of sharp folds and deep cuts carved into a single monolithic form

Physical architectural model of the Cervelo House showing the sectional organization of interlocking volumes and interior spatial flow — The study model reveals the sectional logic of the design, where offset volumes create varied ceiling heights and interconnected living spaces

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Interior Spaces

Design Approach

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