Il Warren Su Warren

Inspired by nature and an honesty in material and craftsmanship, this award-winning residence is beautifully positioned near the end of quiet Warren Avenue. It offers something increasingly rare in Westboro: extraordinary tranquility within walking distance of one of Ottawa’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Designed by PLOTNONPLOT Architecture, built by Crossford and completed in 2024, the approximately 2,700-square-foot residence draws inspiration from the peacefulness, functionality and connection to nature inherent in Japanese architecture. Its Warren Avenue address also inspired an unexpected architectural idea: the spatial and experiential qualities of a rabbit’s warren. The result is a home that unfolds gradually, revealing intimate spaces, surprising transitions and beautifully framed views.

The exterior immediately connects the architecture to its natural setting. The home was designed to age naturally. It is clad in untreated cedar juxtaposed with metal black shingles that create mystery. The Japanese aesthetic incorporates the use of vertical slats, and the exterior of the home makes reference to that design element. 

That experience becomes even more compelling upon entry. A traditional sunken genkan, finished in beautiful river rock, delineates the arrival space from the home beyond. Stepping up from the textured stone onto hardwood provides the first indication that every transition, material and detail has been considered.

The spectacular main floor offers an extraordinary double-height dining space that creates a dramatic sense of volume, while floor-to-ceiling glass connects the interiors to the rear garden. The kitchen is breathtaking, combining rich Baltic birch cabinetry with honed soapstone counters. The owners commissioned a boatmaker-turned-millworker to create the cabinetry, exterior slats, interior feature walls and other elements throughout the home. The level of customization and craftsmanship is extraordinary. 

A feature wall in the dining room travels from the main to the second storey, bringing the eye up to the 25-foot-high ceilings and the Noguchi pendant lamp that hangs over the dining table. The dining room opens to the spacious great room. Also on the main floor is a high-drama powder room, a hidden pantry – concealed behind the wood feature wall – and a mudroom leading to the garage. 

On the second floor are three spacious bedrooms and two full bathrooms, as well as a light-filled landing overlooking one of the green roofs and the rear garden. The family bathroom introduces a playful approach to materiality, including three subtly different grout colours that create unexpected visual interest.

The primary suite is a serene retreat with generous closet space and a beautifully composed ensuite bathroom. A frosted-glass half wall defines the ensuite’s wet room, while allowing light to move through the space. Textured subway tiles, built-in storage, a soaking tub, double vanity and abundant natural light create a bathroom that feels sophisticated, calm and wonderfully private. Laundry is also conveniently located on this level.

Continuing upward, a beautiful intermediate space with built-in bookshelves and treed views is an ideal library, home office or spectacular fitness room. The third floor reveals yet another surprise: a light-filled family room with its own private balcony. There is also a fourth bedroom and full bathroom. Separated from the principal living areas, this is an ideal in-law suite, teen retreat or private guest space. 

Throughout the home, architecture is never separated from livability. Storage disappears into walls, practical spaces are beautifully concealed, natural light is carefully directed, and each material contributes both function and visual interest. The black-framed, triple-paned Pella windows are a dramatic and fantastic feature, affording both beauty and tranquility. The house is very much about light – both natural and sourced – and Lutron lighting features throughout.

The Warren on Warren is a home for someone who wants to live with beauty in their everyday. Meticulously conceived and exquisitely executed, it offers intimacy and drama, privacy and extraordinary walkability, and an architectural experience unlike anything else in Ottawa. This is one of Ottawa’s true dream properties.