House at Fredas Point

Located on the Chester Peninsula in Nova Scotia, this house has a commanding view of Meisner’s Island and the sailing activities surrounding Chester Harbour. The home negotiates its steep terrain and nestles into its site, organized around ocean views and sun exposure.

From the road, the house is tucked into the slope and appears as a single-storey structure, so passers-by can still enjoy the ocean views. Outdoor garden spaces are organized as a series of terraces linked by landscape stairs that choreograph the topography from the road, past the pool deck and shed, and down to the boathouse by the water’s edge.

Designed for an ophthalmologist, the house shares the same precision of detailing that his profession demands—with the field of view observed from every space curated throughout the home. Board formed concrete creates the stereotomic base while cedar shingles clad the walls above grade. Wood casework walls conceal the service spaces and storage and create a warm counterpoint to the aluminum and glass that frame expansive views.

Outlook and refuge are balanced by dividing the building into a day and a night pavilion—one transparent and the other more solid. The glassy day pavilion houses the more public dwelling spaces. It has a large roof floating above a glass clerestory. The stone hearth wraps around the living space forming the fireplace and bench that grounds the south and west elevation. The night pavilion houses the study, primary bedroom, and guest quarters.

Sustainable strategies include collecting the rainwater for domestic use; the massing and inflected zinc roof shields the home from the sun on the south during the summer months and permits passive solar gain in the winter. Triple glazing and highly insulated walls create an envelope to withstand the harsh Nova Scotian weather.

This is a house for observing the land and sea—it nestles into the earth while reaching out to the view, site, and sun. It is a place to experience the bold ocean and changing coastal weather conditions while feeling protected within a warm sanctuary