A multi-purpose ‘refuge’ overlooks the Bay of Fundy in rural Nova Scotia. Consisting of a central gathering space supported by a series of sleeping nooks and totemic elements, the refuge provides a resting place along an existing trail system to serve local community groups.
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Developed as part of a design-and-build program at Dalhousie University’s School of Architecture, the refuge was constructed over three summers by architecture students guided by teachers and local craftsmen. This annually held program provides students with hands-on building experience to complement studio-based learning.

The objective of creating the refuge was to develop an understanding of the use of wood in the history of building, particularly the wood building practices unique to the Minas Basin region of Nova Scotia. By studying the surrounding agricultural building types and construction techniques, the project developed as a simple gable structure constructed entirely with wood (structural system, walls, floors and roof).