History
The Cliff House was completed in 2010. MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects designed the structure. It serves as a prototype for affordable, high-amenity dwelling. This project extends local traditions of lightweight wood construction. It is the first in a series of planned structures on the large coastal site.
Architecture
This structure presents as a minimalist form. It consists of a single box. A galvanized steel superstructure provides support. Steel I-beams lift the volume above the bedrock. Exterior cedar shiplap siding clads the building. The design incorporates wood, steel, and glass.
Setting
The house stands on a rocky outcrop along Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coastline, Canada. It occupies a 455-acre property. The climate is cool and labile, with wet/dry and freeze/thaw cycles common. The structure sits above the bedrock, enhancing the experience of the dramatic coastal landscape. A sense of vertigo is achieved, the structure appearing to float above the sea.
Specifications
The Cliff House measures between 960 and 970 square feet. It functions as a vacation dwelling. The structure provides a high-amenity prototype.
