LakesideHomes began as a collaboration between architects and environmental scientists determined to reframe waterfront living. Our studio expertise includes shoreline geomorphology, low-impact foundation systems and the detailing necessary to keep buildings long-lived in humid, lakeside conditions. We reject generic “waterfront” templates and instead tailor each home to the site’s particularities — slope, fetch, local flora, and historical patterns of lake level fluctuation.
Design development is research-led: we undertake seasonal monitoring, soil testing and pre-design hydrological modelling to align the building’s footprint with natural drainage and habitat corridors. We frequently recommend “soft” shorelines — reed beds, terraced planting and permeable steps — instead of hard retaining walls, thereby enhancing biodiversity and reducing long-term erosion risk. For constructions that require piers, we prefer adjustable pier systems that minimise lake-bed disturbance and allow the structure to respond to slight water level changes.
Sustainability is integral not incidental. We configure passive shading, thermal performance and glazing strategy so that the envelope does most of the work. Where mechanical systems are necessary we specify high-efficiency heat recovery ventilation, ground-source or air-to-water heat pumps and solar PV integration sized for year-round operations. Our projects also include water stewardship measures — rainwater collection for irrigation, greywater reuse strategies and permeable surfacing to keep the hydrological cycle functioning on-site.