Situated along the rugged shoreline of Nova Scotia, East River Residence was conceived for a couple relocating from Montreal in search of a life more deeply rooted in nature—quiet, contemplative, and defined by the presence of the Atlantic.
On the first visit to the property, we followed the coastline before turning inward through a dense stand of forest, arriving at a soft valley held between two steep, rocky inclines. This natural topography became the foundation of the architectural response.
The home spans delicately across the valley, bridging between the two elevated banks while touching the ground lightly on a series of slender steel columns. A long metal-clad offset gable form hovers above a cedar-wrapped base, its profile shifting subtly in response to program and light.
At the main living space, the roof dips low to embrace southern sun and intimate interior gatherings; at the yoga studio, the roof lifts to frame expansive views of the coastline and open ocean beyond.
Moments of interior and exterior interlace throughout the project—large openings draw the landscape deep into the home, while sheltered terraces and outdoor rooms encourage movement across thresholds. The surrounding terrain wraps and flows beneath the structure, guiding occupants toward an extended pathway and timber dock that stretch out over the water, engaging directly with the tidal rhythm of the sea.
East River Residence is a home suspended within landscape—a quiet settlement on the coast that listens to the land, the weather, and the shifting horizon.
Credits
Location: East River, Nova Scotia, Canada
Architect: Omar Gandhi Architects | Project Lead: Jordan Rice
Clients: Undisclosed
Builder: Blueprint Construction
Structural Engineer: Design Point
Photography: Felix Michaud
Drone Photography: Omar Gandhi Architects, Felix Michaud
