This ‘pavilion-in-the-woods’, is located on a protected cove on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast.  It sits on a narrow ridge, surrounded by mature pine and spruce trees.  The narrow plan resolves the contradiction in orientation between sun and view by mediating between the wetland to the south and the sea to the north, providing sun, view, and ventilation in each room.  The informal approach and discreet entry contrast the classical formality of the building.

The scheme employs the typology of an English barn with double shed additions, in memory of an historic barn across the road which was demolished a decade previous.  The private sleeping areas are located in the shed additions on either end, while the great-room occupies the pavilion-like central gabled volume.  It is bookended by cores:  the steel hearth at the west end and the kitchen at the east end.  Four pairs of pylons flank the north and south sides of the great room containing folk art figures which ‘guard’ this temple-like pavilion.  Fully glazed gable ends flood the cathedral ceiling volume with natural light.

The house celebrates the ship-building traditions of Nova Scotia.  The roof resembles an upside-down boat hull covered for the winter.  The ship’s ‘ribs’ are constructed as curved glulams which span from pylon to pylon.  They are connected to the pylons with plywood gussets as they tear through the building envelope.  The ‘keel’ spans the volume longitudinally from rib to rib.  The ‘masts’  interlock the ribs and keel as a three-dimensional puzzle similar to boat construction.  The metal roof creates 12’ overhangs and presents a delicate 3” edge, offering and indoor/outdoor threshold zone.