Architectural & Interior Design Photography, Corporate Commercial Photography, Advertising & Portrait Photographer | Ottawa | 613-558-7585 | justin.vanleeuwen@gmail.com
Every Summer the Ottawa architectural, design, and builder community rushes to put the finishing touches on their GOHBA Housing Design Awards submissions. Of course, without the heroic efforts of the interior and architectural photographers who capture the finished project, they’d never be outside of their own neighbourhood. I personally photographed several projects for the Awards this year, and this one – Stairway to Haven – most extensively.
Photographed over three days in July, I was extremely fortunate that the home was minutes away from my own domicile. It meant a 5:00am shoot to get the good light on the front was only a 4:50 wakeup call :). I’ve worked extensively with the builder, Roy Nandram of RND Construction in the past, and their work here is a great example of their years of quality custom homes, renovations, and green thinking. Technically a renovation, the original homes roof was raised several feet for expansive ceilings and the incorporation of a unique bridge-feature spanning what was, originally, open space.
As a resident of the neighbourhood, I found it most interesting that designer Houry Avedessian of Ha² Architectural Design managed to increase the volume of the home, without changing the footprint. It still occupies the same space that it always did, maintaining the integrity of the backyard. A swooping overhanging bedroom now covers the deck.
This project, and many others, are currently (as of September 2016) open for online “People’s Choice Award” voting.
It was a lot of work, not just for me of course, and I couldn’t have finished the shoot in time for the awards if not for the incredible team at RND construction and the help of stagers: Haig Khatchadourian, Carolyn Dyer, and Houry Keverian-Avedissian. Furniture assitance provided by Mikaza Home Ottawa, and a generous hanging of original artwork by Dominik Sokolowski