This place is magical. Perched above the Annapolis Valley, with Cape Blomidon in the distance beyond, this property boasts remnants of a 100+ year old farm including a magnolia tree, wild apple trees and a tree-lined meadow. This breathtaking property is surrounded by acres of forest providing ultimate privacy.
We envisioned this house as a perch for our clients to watch the light play across the valley below. The most important spaces in this home overlook the view, and our homeowners have the great fortune of waking up each morning as the golden sun begins to illuminate the landscape around them.
Though not among the original requests from our clients, the enclosed screen porch, which faces north-west, is now their favourite room in the house. The homeowners spend many hours in this space watching the sun set.
Three distinct rooms make up the upper floor of this home – a guest bedroom, a fitness/yoga room and a music space. An attached garage on the west side of the property buffers the home from passersby.
What were the key challenges?
This home was sustainably designed using Passive House principles. Central to Passive House standards are large south-facing windows with minimal glass on the north side. But this property has a showstopping north view. The solution: We altered the topography of the land, creating a bowl-shaped microclimate near the south-facing entry of the home. It is here that the house collects heat from the sun. The spacious entry is glass-filled to maximize the solar gains, which offsets the large north-facing glass opposite it.
What are the sustainability features?
The house was designed following Passive House Principles. It has super insulated walls and triple paned passive house certified windows.
Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?
With visions of leaving the bustle of the city behind, our yoga-music-loving clients wanted this house to be sized just right for them. The main floor consists of an open concept living room, dining room and kitchen. With a passion for the cooking, our clients wanted the moderately-sized kitchen to be well-functioning with large pantry. The acoustically-sound main floor master bedroom is a serene retreat, with luxurious ensuite and walk-in closet. It is positioned on the east end of the home to capture the exquisite morning light.
