Toronto-based studio Omar Gandhi Architects has completed a lakefront house out of a series of rotated, cedar-clad volumes that respond directly to the orientation of the site and its trees.
Known as Cedar’s Kin, the 465-square-metre (5,000-square-foot) programme is spread over a steep, wooded slope.
A series of rotated blocks make up Cedar’s Kin in Canada
Omar Gandhi Architects imagined the project as a descent through the landscape from the top of the hill in the forest canopy to the shoreline, letting it be shaped by its environment and responding to light shifting through the forest.
“The architecture is organized as a sequence of stepped volumes that frame this transition, with each space oriented toward distinct views as users circulate through the home,” the studio told Dezeen, explaining that each form was positioned to minimise site erosion and preserve existing vegetation.
The cedar-clad volumes step down the hilly site
The main house is broken into three volumes. A bridge leads into the entry and primary suite located on the uppermost level. This descends via a custom-turned stairwell to the shared social areas of the living, kitchen and dining room, which open onto a large deck.
The deck connects the main house to a guest cabin with two secondary suites in a nearby, but private area.
At the lowest level, which is partially embedded into the hillside, a game room and a secondary suite connect to storage and service spaces at an angle.
A bridge gives access to the main home
Further down the slope, a beach hut follows the same design language, allowing for direct access to Lake Huron.
To connect each of the rotated forms and establish continuity throughout the site, the studio clad the whole design in eastern white cedar, which will weather to silver over time and blend into the surrounding tree trunks.
Omar Gandhi Architects balances cedar house on rocky Nova Scotia coastline
“Cedar boards extend inward at the soffits and ceilings, reinforcing a connection between exterior and interior,” the studio said.
“Inside, spaces are grounded by banks of oak millwork and soft furnishings, building a warm, tactile and inviting atmosphere.”
The blocks were oriented to have views across the lakeside landscape
Large apertures with upward-sloped soffits bring sunlight into the spaces and open the rooms to the views beyond.
“Rather than establishing a single, dominant view, the house is composed as a series of calibrated moments, where each space develops a distinct relationship with light, trees and horizon,” the studio said.
“This creates a gentle rhythm and playfulness in the architecture, shaped through carefully framed views and experiences.”
The interiors were designed to have a warm and inviting feel
The studio said that working with the site and existing vegetation – advised by local conservation authorities – allowed a more expressive and responsive building form.
“A strong and trusting client relationship also allowed the project to be pushed in a more ambitious and resolved direction,” the studio said.
A game room is located on the lowest level of Cedar’s Kin
Founded in 2010, Omar Gandhi Architects has offices in Toronto, Halifax and Berlin and focuses on context-driven design.
Previously, the studio completed a cedar-wrapped house “inspired by the scattered boulders” that trail down the seaside property in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, lofted a Corten steel cabin on stilts in the Gaspereau River Valley and modelled a fire-resistant residence in British Columbia after a mountain beetle.
The photography is by Ema Peter.
Project credits:
Architecture: Omar Ghandi Architects
Structural: Mirkwood Engineering
Mechanical: BK Consulting Inc
Millwork fabrication: Northwest Custom Cabinets Inc
Stair fabrication: Royal Oak Railing & Stair Ltd