LAWRENCETOWN HOUSE
Situated in a quiet coastal community on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, the house is set against a dramatic coastal backdrop. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the site extends southeast across a diverse wetland of grasses, ponds, and fir trees. A rugged rocky shoreline borders the site to the west. The area is known for its scenic white sand beaches and provincial parks and is a favorite among surf enthusiasts.
The house consists of a thick wooden wall that defines an arrival courtyard to the north and a protected terrace to the south. The wall contains all the services for the house including kitchen, hearth, storage, and mechanical. Two off-setting pitched-roof volumes rest on top of the wall, creating shelter for the house. The primary volume contains the living and sleeping areas while the secondary volume contains a garage and guest suite. The wall is placed at the crest of the sloping site, creating a modest, one-storey massing toward the road and two-stories towards the water. The road side is mostly solid with only one small opening at the recessed entry. The water side, however, is almost completely glazed. The treatment of the facades strikes a balance between openness and privacy. The wall is clad with horizontal eastern white cedar shiplap, that is left unfinished to weather naturally. The pitched roofs are wrapped with a soft grey, standing-seam metal with tightly spaced ribs.
Designed for a young family of four, the house is arranged upside down: the primary living areas are upstairs and the sleeping areas are downstairs. Entry occurs through a compressed vestibule where the outlook is withheld. The vaulted great room, in contrast, frames spectacular views of the layered coastal landscape to the southeast. The millwork and flooring throughout the great room are clear maple.
