omar gandhi suspends east river residence over nova scotia coast

a home suspended over nova scotia’s rocky shoreline

The East River Residence by Omar Gandhi Architects sits along the Atlantic shoreline of Nova Scotia, a long, low house set lightly across a rocky depression that faces the open water. Designed for a couple relocating from Montreal, the home supports a slower routine tied to the rugged coastline.

Approached through dense coastal forest, the project appears gradually between granite boulders and scrub. The building stretches between two raised banks, touching the ground with a small footprint while the terrain passes beneath.

Slender steel columns carry the volume above sand and stone, allowing grasses and moss to continue their path below the floor plate. From a distance, the metal roof reads as a single silver plane against the sky, while cedar cladding brings warmth and scale to the base.

images © Felix Michaud

omar gandhi designs the home as a bridge across the land

The team at Omar Gandhi Architects describes the house as a bridge across the landform, a strategy that preserves continuity of the site while framing long views toward the horizon. A metal clad offset gable runs the length of the plan, its geometry shifting in section to respond to program and light. Clerestory glazing slips beneath the ridge, bringing soft illumination into the depth of the interior.

Extended overhangs temper sun and wind and create sheltered edges along the façade. At moments the roof lifts to clear large boulders and capture expansive views; in other areas it lowers to compress the scale of living spaces and encourage a sense of enclosure. The form reads as a single gesture from afar, yet close inspection reveals careful modulation that tracks the rhythms of daily life.

the East River Residence sits lightly along the Atlantic shoreline of Nova Scotia

restrained materials contrast rugged surroundings

Along the interiors of the East River House, Omar Gandhi Architects curates a restrained palette which carries the tones of the exterior inward. Pale wood floors, cedar walls, and muted masonry echo the greys and tans of rock and sand. The circulation spine runs parallel to the glazing, guiding movement from private rooms toward shared spaces that open to the sea. A built in hearth and wood storage niche mark the center of the plan, offering a durable gathering point during colder months.

Large panes of glass draw the landscape deep into the house. Dining and living areas face the water through uninterrupted glazing, with frames kept thin to maintain a direct relationship with the horizon. Thresholds extend outward into terraces and small outdoor rooms carved between existing stones. A pathway leads farther to a timber dock that meets the tides, reinforcing the daily awareness of the Atlantic.

Omar Gandhi Architects suspends the house above a rocky coastal depression