Back Bay a-frame

[Currently in construction]

As a personal and experimental project, the Back Bay A-Frame began during a two week design-build course with Dalhousie School of Architecture students. Initially imagined as a public boat house, the A-Frame gradually developed into a private residence while navigating the building permit process following the student's involvement. 

Much of the design work and development of this buildings occurred through the act of building, rather than a design exercise that was removed from the site features. As a result the form of this building naturally and sympathetically rises from a existing pocket in the bedrock then cracks its plan to orient itself inline with the sun and ocean views. Without a typical 'client,' and the usual hinderance of timelines this project has provided our team with an opportunity to explore new methods of building such as pre-fabricated panelized cladding systems, custom-built aluminum window walls, a concrete bathtub that was poured in place, and an exploratory structural system. 

The interior of the building provides a warm and comforting environment with white oak clad walls and polished concrete floors throughout. The great room is divided into three programmatic sections for gathering, eating, and cooking with each space having it's own elevations within the room. The viewpoints from each space are designed to connect specific environmental features around the building with each unique aspect of dwelling. 

Architecture and Design: Peter Braithwaite Studio Ltd.

Construction: Peter Braithwaite Studio Ltd.

Structural Engineering: Andrea Doncaster Engineering

Models and Drawings: Peter Braithwaite, Lucien Landry, Kyle Cheeseman