The original vinyl clad house is a perfect example of a traditional Nova Scotia conundrum; whereby two separate houses from different lots were brought together on two adjacent foundations before undergoing a series of further additions (at least three more). The challenge was how to open up the floor plan and raise the roof to bring in sunlight. The solution involved two phases. First renovating the original house to the north and then renovating the miscellaneous additions to the south.

Overall, on the outside the form left traces of the original house and its roofline intact to help celebrate this history. On the inside we salvaged as much wood as possible; repurposing it throughout from framing walls to loft railings.

The client situation was really unique with this build because the owner wanted to work alongside us the entire time. In true design/build style many aspects, such as the interior plan and materials, were left entirely unresolved until we could stand in the space and make decisions. The result was a very responsive design that prioritized craftsmanship and creativity. It was also an incredible learning opportunity to mentor the owner through each decision.

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