Veil House

June 4, 2026

Award Category Governor General's Medals in Architecture

Distinction Lauréat du Prix d’excellence

Awarded Year 2026

Firms 5468796 Architecture

Located in a traditional Winnipeg neighbourhood, Veil House reimagines aging-in-place through a bold yet contextually sensitive design. Organized on a loose nine-square grid around a central courtyard, the home creates open, interconnected living spaces defined by solid utility blocks rather than conventional walls, fostering both privacy and spatial continuity.

Designed for seamless accessibility, the residence sits at grade and incorporates an interior ramp that provides universal access across two levels while drawing natural light into the lower floor. This arrangement strengthens connections between interior spaces, the courtyard, and the surrounding landscape.

The home’s defining feature is its weathered steel veil, which spirals around the structure, filtering daylight, enhancing privacy, and creating layered outdoor spaces. Strategically perforated, the veil allows outward views while obscuring sightlines inward. Its pixelated form references the neighbourhood’s familiar roof geometries while introducing a contemporary material expression.

Balancing sculpture and architecture, Veil House offers an innovative model for adaptable living, combining accessibility, material richness, and environmental responsiveness within a restrained urban presence.

JURY COMMENT(S)

This house skillfully balances functionality with a sublime experience of light and space. The diversity of its interior rooms is shaped by a beautifully detailed steel veil that captivates through both its expressive geometry and its shadowy presence.