Omar Gandhi Architects has completed a house on Canada’s Atlantic coastline that “emerges from rocky terrain.” Named Rockbound, and located in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia, the home was commissioned as a place of refuge for a busy client.

Situated atop a rocky shoreline, the building was shaped to capture views of the ocean while sheltering the interior from winds and storms. A steel and wood frame was shaped to resist hurricane-force winds, while a material palette with naturally weathering characteristics is intended to “age gracefully” and “tell the story of its place in the landscape.”

“The structure emerges from the rocky terrain, mirroring the coastline's contours, and its primary living spaces run parallel to the water, offering breathtaking panoramic views along the coast and across the bay to the iconic Peggy's Cove Lighthouse,” the team adds.

The entrance to the home is designed to evoke a sense of privacy and shelter, with the front door giving way to an intimate foyer that “tantalizes with hints of what lies beyond.” The interior then opens up to fully embrace the ocean views, where warm tones of tile and millwork “create a harmonious counterbalance to the cool greys and blues of the bay, enveloping occupants in a serene and inviting atmosphere.”

Outside, large covered decks offer shelter from the sun and changing weather conditions while still extending the living spaces to the outdoors. Meanwhile, the bedroom volume has been designed to seemingly hover above the main living spaces, creating a “quiet and private sanctuary that feels entirely immersed in the landscape.”

The scheme is one of several recently completed residential projects to feature in our editorial. Last week, we published details of Atelier L’Abri’s new rural camping shelters in Canada, while Indee Design unveiled a ‘playhouse for kids and adults’ in Montreal. In January, meanwhile, StudioAC showcased a Toronto home with an 'unapologetically contemporary' gable form.

Earlier this year, Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture completed a set of minimalist concrete apartments on a narrow site in Tokyo while, late last year, IOAN showcased a Joshua Tree residence using natural materials set against a desert backdrop.