The Rock with Gort Scott

Another Architecture Podcast

In this episode I am joined by the architect Jay Gort, director of the British practice Gort Scott. We discuss The Rock, a home they have designed for a family of five, overlooking Alta Lake in Whistler, Canada.
The home is conceived as a form, which belongs to the rocky outcrop that it sits on, emerging from it, surrounding it, celebrating it. The design plays with the contrasts between light and dark and openness and enclosure. Living spaces are formed out of concrete blades, that seemingly emerge from the rocky outcrop. The heavy and rough forms of the concrete, forms walls and floors that frame views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The split levels of the living spaces respond to the natural topography of the rock below and are unified by a floating horizon of a textured ceiling above.

In the interview, Jay tells me about how he convinced the family to select a UK based architect to design their dream home in Canada, by visiting and getting to know the rocky outcrop intimately. We discuss the process of developing the design and the influences that shaped it and how this incredible house feels to live in now.
At the end of the episode, I ask Jay the three questions I ask all my podcast guests;
– what really annoys him about his home?
– what house has he visited that has really inspired him?
– and, if he could choose anyone to design him a new house, who would he choose?
I hope you enjoy listening!