When Andrew and Dale Noseworthy decided to build a vacation home close to their day-to-day home in the city of Halifax, they wanted to celebrate contemporary architectural forms whilst evoking their childhood memories of cottage life. “We were constantly working on this balance between clean, modern lines and rustic cottage living,” explains architect Rayleen Hill, founder of RHAD Architects.

The Monocular, as the home is called, is a modern interpretation of a rural cottage that celebrates its dockside location in the rural community of Chester Basin, Nova Scotia. The name of the home comes from the clever arrangement of two built forms—the main home and the “bunkie” with a screened porch—that are connected by a breezeway to frame the view to the basin with a “monocular.” Access to the spectacular view is maximized by utilizing this area as the main circulation zone between various areas of the home.

“Access to the entry of the house, the outdoor shower, the garage, wood storage, the bunkie, the screen porch, and living room all open into this monocular,” explains Hall. “It gives these constant moments of not only the view but of being outside, whether summer or winter.”

The 2,750-square-foot home is split into two levels across the two buildings, both of which are contemporary interpretations of timber-clad gable houses and echo the local vernacular of Chester Basin. The main building contains the primary living spaces for Andrew and Dale while the smaller building houses the guest areas and more seasonal spaces.

The larger main building features open-plan living, dining, and kitchen on the ground floor, and three conventional bedrooms on the first floor. The secondary building houses a spacious “bunkie” that can accommodate up to five extra guests, responding to Andrew and Dale’s desire for a home that can be used to host friends and extended family.

The close connection to the outside is further enhanced via the sun-facing screen porch with wood stove, which allows for immersion in nature even in cold weather. In this semi-outdoor room, the Western Red Cedar timber screen offers protection from the elements without obscuring the view, and creates a dramatic play of light and shadow throughout the day.

While the aesthetic for the home draws on contemporary architectural forms, these are balanced with a warm material palette and more rustic elements. Take, for example, the barn boards in the bunkie ceiling, the boardbeam countertop in the powder room, or cold-rolled steel stringer and railing for the staircase and landing. “These all speak of the no-nonsense, simple, cottage feel for the house,” says Hall.

The exterior of the home has also been designed to respond to the forested setting, with simple shiplap Real Cedar siding that has been left to weather naturally. “Cedar was used for its availability and its widespread use in our province,” says Hill. “The low maintenance aspect for cladding is important for clients, and it is interesting to watch the cedar weather over time.”

Since it was built, the Western Red Cedar has developed a silver-gray patina that complements the metal roof and aluminum-clad windows, resulting in a strikingly monolithic built form punctuated by the windows and the bright red barn door.

“The Real Cedar is natural and simple so it fits with our design,” says Andrew. “The aging process of the wood also gives it a unique look, depending on its exposure to the elements—and the ease of maintaining the cedar over the long-term is a great feature.”

“We are always striving for our houses to have multiple aspects, and a lot of special moments in the house and outside, not just one—and this house achieves that,” says Hall.

The clients couldn’t agree more. “There’s so much we love about the house,” says Andrew. “There’s a wood stove on the three-season porch so we can hang out there even on a cool evening; the outdoor shower in the winter feels like you’re at a spa with the cold air, the hot water, and the smell of the cedar; and in the summer, we’re in and out of the water, lounging on the dock, or floating on a paddleboard.”

To learn more about Real Cedar products including siding, decking, paneling and trim, visit RealCedar.com.

Project Details:

Architect: RHAD Architects

Photographer: Julian Parkinson