Image credit: Felix Michaud
Omar Gandhi Architects has completed East River Residence, a coastal home in Nova Scotia designed as a suspended structure spanning a natural depression along the Atlantic shoreline. Conceived as a retreat, the residence is oriented to respond to local weather conditions, topography, and views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Located within a valley between two rocky embankments, the house is positioned to minimize disruption to the terrain. The site is accessed by following the shoreline through dense coastal forest. The scheme bridges between elevated banks and is supported by slender steel columns, allowing the landscape to pass beneath the structure.
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Image credit: Felix Michaud
A long, metal-clad offset gable roof defines the scheme’s overall form. The roof geometry shifts in response to interior program and site conditions, while extended overhangs create covered exterior areas and moderate the transition between interior and exterior spaces. Over the main living areas, the roof lowers to frame southern light, while in a dedicated yoga studio, the roof volume rises to open views toward the coastline and ocean.
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Image credit: Felix Michaud
The base of the house is clad in cedar, contrasting with the metal roof above. Interior and exterior spaces are integrated through large openings and a series of sheltered terraces and outdoor rooms. Materials are carried consistently throughout the project to create continuity between built form and landscape.
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Landscape design forms a central part of the overall strategy. Terraces and patios are arranged along the facade, and a pathway extends from the house to a timber dock projecting over the water. The dock engages directly with the tidal conditions of the Atlantic coastline.
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Image credit: Felix Michaud
“The material palette, with its gently weathered soft Frey tones, begins to merge seamlessly with the rocky landscape and harsh coastal context,” Omar Gandhi said about the scheme.
Image credit: Felix Michaud
Image credit: Felix Michaud
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