Beaver Lodge Historic Renovation + Addition
A restoration and addition to an iconic 1914 boarding house in Banff, Alberta
Location Banff, AB Status Completed
Reviving Banff’s history
Beaver Lodge was originally built in 1914 by pioneer Norman Luxton as a boarding house rental property for Banff travelers. This renovation and addition sought to celebrate its historical era-specific details and restore its original use as a rental property.
As well as the restoration of the original 1914 Beaver Lodge home, Studio North also created a modern addition that adds a contrasting yet complimentary piece of architecture to the historic building. This new modern kitchen extension allows Beaver Lodge to offer two dwellings with full amenities, thus returning it to its original use as a rental house. Fir plywood is used throughout as a material with character, texture, and the perfect balance of roughness and refinement.
Inspired by the historic local concept of the Backyard Cabin in Banff, Studio North also conceptualized the Beaver Lodge Laneway behind the original historic Beaver Lodge as a way to address challenges of funding for the the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation and of urban density and housing for the Town of Banff. Through its historic reverence and its contextually-sensitive contemporary design, the Beaver Lodge Laneway serves as both historic preservation and as a precedent for sensitive densification of architecture in the Town of Banff.
“Beaver Street is so important because it was the first residential neighbourhood in Banff. Not only does it have the earliest buildings in Banff, but there are also early rustic log cabins”
- Jennifer Laforest
Heritage Planner, Town of Banff
The original Beaver Lodge foregrounds the new Beaver Lodge Laneway
The original craft and character of the 1914 Beaver Lodge was meticulously restored, while necessary upgrades were made to its thermal performance and energy efficiency for it to function as a modern home. Archival documents and inspection of the existing lodge were used as references to inform new spaces such as the bright upstairs dormer bathroom.
The design of our modern addition seeks to be a bright, warm, and bold space for cooking and entertaining, both juxtaposing and complementing the cozy nooks and crannies of the original building.
