Photo Credit (Above): Ema Peter Photography

Location: Belfountain, Ontario

Architecture Practice: UUFIE INC.

Chosen by a jury of respected design experts, the 20 projects comprising the OAA’s 2026 Design Excellence Finalists represent a diverse range of building types, including sustainably designed community centres, innovative housing solutions, revitalized academic and cultural facilities, and transformative public spaces. These finalists serve as the shortlist for the OAA’s 10 Design Excellence Winners, which will be announced next month and honoured at the OAA Conference in the Waterloo Region in May. The biennial OAA Design Excellence Awards program offers Ontario practices the opportunity to display the transformative influence of architecture, promoting broader public recognition and appreciation for the field. The following media statement has been supplied by the submitting project team:

Belfountain House transforms a 1970s chalet on the Niagara Escarpment into a four-level family home shaped by its steep hillside setting. Organized as a sectional response to the site, the house follows the natural slope through a rich sequence of ascending and descending spaces that connect daily life to the surrounding landscape. By reusing portions of the existing structure, incorporating reclaimed materials, and integrating environmental design strategies, the project balances sustainability, adaptation, and architectural expression.

Belfountain House demonstrates how thoughtful renewal can turn an existing structure into a resilient, expressive dwelling for a growing family.

Photo Credit: Ema Peter Photography

Photo Credit: UUfie

Photo Credit: Ema Peter Photography

This blOAAg post is part of a series exploring the OAA’s 20 Design Excellence Finalists for 2026, as selected by our jury.