Miners Duplex

Canmore, AB, Canada

Canmore’s mining history left little of its mark on the town 100 years later. With the mines closed, the buildings were taken down and the rail lines covered up; only the Canmore Hotel and a few small cabins stand from that era. We wanted to bring back some of the mining iconography to the town who still has a find place in its heart for those tough days.

Built on the “Mine-side” of the river into a steep lot this duplex was the ideal project for a mine entry design. Heavy timbers create an entryway between natural rock clad walls of the garages to a shaft of light inside. The house numbers swing on hooks like the tags miners took into the mines to ensure everyone was accounted for each day.

The staircase rises in front of the entry bringing natural light from the upper floors through steel and heavy timber stairs to a rustic wood clad wall though the heart of each unit. Bedrooms are on the middle level with living spaces on the upper level for commanding views over the valley and mountains. Heavy timber details and contemporary rooflines echo the structures of the mines and bring a little history to a modern home.

Each unit has a 4 car garage and 3 bedrooms, multiple decks and approximately 4100 sq.ft. of developed space.