Within a family estate on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, the newly completed Two Bay House stands as a testament to architectural precision and natural integration. The province’s significant design contributions, such as the Two Bay House, demonstrate the region’s commitment to innovative architecture. Crafted by RHAD Architects, a Canadian firm led by Rayleen Hill, this unique residence seamlessly blends blocky volumes with voids carved into its mass-timber structure, cloaked in blackened wood cladding.
Inspired by deliberate subtraction rather than addition, the Two Bay House employs strategic voids to create spaces that bridge the interior with the surrounding landscape. According to RHAD Architects, these voids are as crucial as the solid forms, shaping the home’s interactive experience, making both homes featured here prime examples of this design philosophy.
For more architectural wonders using timber, explore Tectoniques’ Cultural Center and see how stone and timber create landmark spaces.
Design and Structure in Nova Scotia’s Architectural Icons
This two-story house utilizes mass timber for its primary framework, with a glue-laminated timber roof structure and standard lumber decking. Its insulated concrete forms (ICFs) walls further enhance sustainability and resilience. The homes we explore, including the Two Bay House, exemplify cutting-edge use of materials.
Comprising two parallel structures, or “bays,” the home’s design features one shorter bay, crafting a western courtyard that captures sunlight while shielding against winds. This thoughtful configuration creates a protected, west-facing courtyard—a signature element in these notable architectural pieces.
Exterior and Materiality
The exterior’s vertical wooden cladding is charred using shou sugi ban, an ancient Japanese technique, and treated with black oil. This approach not only anchors the home visually within its environment but also creates a stark contrast with natural wood accents located in recessed spaces, revealing areas that open to light and nature. Such distinctive exterior treatments help these prominent houses blend and contrast with their environments.
Upon entering from the east, one steps into a sunlit court enclosed by towering slatted walls, offering a serene transition adorned by evening glows emanating from internal lighting. This vertical space provides a continual anchor within the home.
Interiors and Spatial Dynamics
Within, a clear division exists between communal spaces and private quarters. The shorter bay houses bedrooms, including a primary space above, while the elongated bay encompasses a lively kitchen, dining, and living area. Upstairs, a music room and hair salon—catering to one client’s profession—are situated. These designs, through spatial dynamics, distinctively accommodate varied lifestyles.
Another captivating creation, Alireza Taghaboni’s Gable Villa, merges bold new geometries with traditional architecture.
The upper floor features a significant void, allowing a loft and glass bridge to overlook communal areas, encouraging fluid interaction and light passage between levels. This openness extends through ample glazing along the waterside, bringing the landscape into the home’s embrace.
The western facade, home to a swimming pool and expansive terrace, exemplifies how architectural subtraction creates vibrant living spaces. Rather than ornate forms, the design uses voids to provide moments of contrast—intertwining compression with openness, shadow with light.
Other notable works in Nova Scotia include a cedar-clad house by Omar Gandhi Architects and a village-like steel structure residence by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple. These highlighted houses significantly contribute to its architectural landscape. The photography of Two Bay House is credited to Adrian Ozimek.
Source: dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
What materials are used in the Two Bay House?
The Two Bay House utilizes mass timber for its primary framework, with a glue-laminated timber roof structure and standard lumber decking. Its walls are made of insulated concrete forms (ICFs) to enhance sustainability and resilience.
How does shou sugi ban affect the house’s appearance?
The exterior’s vertical wooden cladding is charred using shou sugi ban and treated with black oil, visually anchoring the home within its environment while creating stark contrast with natural wood accents in recessed spaces.
What design elements create interaction with the environment?
The Two Bay House employs strategic voids to create spaces bridging the interior with the surrounding landscape. Large glazing along the waterside allows the landscape to be embraced within the home, enhancing interaction with the environment.