Colizza Bruni Architecture Inc.

For a custom house on a narrow lot located in the emerging Ottawa urban village of Hintonburg, we wanted an architect 1. with an award winning portfolio of resolutely modern residences; 2. with designs demonstrating sensitivity to a site’s “sense of place;” 3. with tight urban infill experience; and with a solid record on cost control. Colizza Bruni Architects was selected because of a long record of strong house designs that included many delightfully expressive infill houses that have shown sensitivity for the Hintonburg’s historic, mixed-residential/light industrial character. The architects worked closely with us on the design; they responded with a powerful but cost effective exterior option (orange rusted steel) to our request for more colour; and provided unique designs for the kitchen, entrance bench/shelving, stairs, landscaping and a later added loft in the light tower, all of which give the house its own distinct character. They came up with various design solutions to maximize interior light despite the narrow site and to ensure visual connection with the lot's 60 ft spruce tree in the back yard The firm's fixed cost model based on decades of experience assisted in controlling costs. They sustained an excellent relationship with both us as clients and the project management team overseeing the build. Approvals and inspections all went without a hitch.