Black Point Residence

This expansive residence was designed for a retired couple looking to design a home that could host their extended family for holidays and large family gatherings. Located along Northumberland Strait in Black Point, Nova Scotia, the building’s form is comprised of three distinct geometric volumes which each comprise specific programmatic functions. The two gable structures have specific programmatic functions in that one is dedicated to shared living and gathering spaces while the other is dedicated to sleeping and bathing. The third rectilinear volume intersects and skewers both gables and contains the building’s circulation and services spaces. Each volume is rotated at their intersection of their axis’s to optimize their views and sun exposure.

The building’s interior puts its structure on display with exposed steel portal frames and rough-sawn rafter. The interior materiality accentuates the building’s volumetric and programmatic organization. To accommodate large family gatherings, the program includes an extra-large kitchen and dining table, a variety of seating areas, and multiple spaces dedicated to their grandchildren. At the culmination of the circulation axis, a fireplace anchors the building’s social activity within a dramatic cantilever. The site’s landscaping is graded to create expansive walk-outs for the basement and main floor, creating secondary outdoor entertainment spaces and connecting the interior and exterior programs.

Architecture and Design: Peter Braithwaite Studio Ltd. (Peter Braithwaite, Jody Miller, Matt Gillingham)

Structural Engineering: Andrea Doncaster Engineering

Drawings and Models: Jody Miller, Peter Braithwaite

Renderings: Yurii Suhov