Carraig Ridge | Saunders Architecture

Carraig Ridge is a unique opportunity. Over the next ten years, 650 acres of secluded and
pristine Canadian landscape will become a new centre of innovative contemporary residential
design. Scattered across these south and west-facing slopes, ridges, lakes and woodlands will
be 44 unique houses, each occupying a generous lot of between one and five acres. The new
houses will occupy just a small proportion of the site to preserve a great swathe of this
beautiful wilderness. 
As well as re-zoning the land to avoid over-development, landscape designers and
contemporary architects have worked to ensure the new houses have minimal impact on their
surroundings. 'I want this project to be based on preservation,' explains Carraig Ridge's driving
force, Ian MacGregor. With decades of direct family connection to these lands, MacGregor
believes in a carefully managed long-term vision. 'What we're creating here at Carraig Ridge is
a healthy future for generations to come.' 
Carraig Ridge is set in open countryside between the revitalised city of Calgary and the open
expanses of the Banff National Park. Alberta's famous Ghost Lake is nearby and on the far
horizon the land rises up to form the spectacular peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The land is
shared with wolves, elk, bison and eagles, as well as many other species, while each lot has
been divided to conform to the natural contours and boundaries of the terrain. !
The Carraig Ridge plot was originally part of the Morleyville Settlement, the cradle of southern
Alberta cattle ranching in the late 19th century. Today, the site offers an opportunity to
combine conservation with innovation. The first collection of new houses are being overseen
by the Norwegian-based studio Saunders Architecture, founded by the Canadian-born
architect Todd Saunders. 
Saunders' acclaimed portfolio includes the Fogo Island Inn and Artists' Studios in
Newfoundland, a series of bold modern buildings that combine traditional materials with
modern forms, attracting awards and attention from around the world. His studio is currently
working on projects across Norway as well as in Denmark, Sweden, the USA and Canada. !
Saunders and MacGregor will transform Carraig Ridge with a series of unique modern retreats.
Every new house at Carraig Ridge will have a minimal environmental footprint, with design and
construction working in harmony with the landscape to offer residents unspoilt and expansive
views of one of the world's great wildernesses. Residents will become part of the historic and
environmental legacy of the land, and there is an exciting opportunity to bring personal design
sensibilities and taste to each new house. Above all, craft, materials, design and technology will
be brought to the fore to ensure the landscape is given prominence over architectural scale
and ostentation. 
Carraig Ridge will provide a retreat for generations to come. The vast majority of this
spectacular terrain will be preserved forever by a conservation easement. A Home Owners'
Association will provide maintenance and permanent peace of mind. Most importantly of all,
the site provides an opportunity to combine architecture, landscape and lifestyle with a strong
sense of permanence and connection to the land.

Text by: Jonathan Bell