Williamson Chong Architects adds "carved" facade to Toronto family home
The wooden facade of this Toronto property by local practice Williamson Chong Architects is set-back and angled towards a nearby ravine (+ slideshow).
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_6.jpg)
The Bala Line home, which accommodates a family of five, is situated on a street towards the western edge of the ravine, and sits 60 feet (18.3 metres) above the disused Bala Line railway.
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_0.jpg)
In order to reflect the surrounding terrain, the architects stacked a series of staggered terraced spaces on top of each other.
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_3.jpg)
They added a shallow wooden void to the front facade, which is angled to provide the interior with daylight from the south and west.
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_2.jpg)
"This house integrates a series of terraced spaces strung together by a staircase – coinciding with the cascading topography beyond," said the architects.
"The project erodes toward the ravine, leaving a light-filled series of upper spaces capturing any natural light and thermally moderating effects of fresh valley air – most notably in the form of a carved front facade," they added.
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_1.jpg)
Towards the back of the house, both a sliding glazed door and glass wraparound wall can be pulled away to open up a corner of the house to the outside.
A shallow set of stairs provides access to the interior space, as well as doubling up as tiered seating for family and guests in the garden.
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_7.jpg)
Inside, the sunken living room at the rear of the house is situated next to a higher open-plan dining and kitchen area.
Two children's bedrooms and a large bathroom are located on the second floor, while the master bedroom and en suite occupy the entire third floor.
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_4.jpg)
Throughout the majority of the property, walls are painted white and floors are wooden – with the exception of the kitchen, where light-coloured floor tiles contrast with wooden cabinets.
![Bala Line House by Williamson Chong Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_936_8.jpg)
Williamson Chong Architects was founded in 2011 by Donald Chong, Betsy Williamson and Shane Williamson. The Toronto studio's previous projects include a house in Frogs Hollow that burrows into the Ontario landscape.
Photography is by Bob Gundu.
![bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_02](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_02.gif)
![bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_03](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/bala-line-house-williamson-chong-architects_dezeen_03.gif)