A Nova Scotian Home With Panoramic Views Over St. Margarets Bay
Architect Omar Gandhi creates Rockbound, a cozy and private retreat on the water.
When Nova Scotian architect Omar Gandhi finished what was meant to be his own house and studio in Halifax, NUVO paid a visit. Though that was only a few short years ago, his architecture firm, in high demand, quickly outgrew its studio space. From newer, larger spaces in Halifax and Toronto, Gandhi has since had a busy stretch, designing a range of projects, including a restaurant in Toronto and a house in the Okanagan Valley. His most recent is Rockbound in Hubbards, Nova Scotia.
Tucked deep into St. Margarets Bay inland from Peggys Cove, the house is perched directly on the waterfront on a rocky outcropping. Designed to prioritize views of the water, it offers distant views of the Atlantic Ocean’s horizon line.
Gandhi drew from Nova Scotia’s distinctive architectural vernacular, cladding the house in wood siding that will weather over time. Its overall form, a pair of stacked boxes, places it squarely in the contemporary moment.
The shared living spaces and a guest bedroom are on the ground floor, with the primary bedroom in its own boxy structure on top. Positioned in this way, the bedroom provides a sense of retreat and privacy—and a perch from which to take in panoramic views of the water. To emphasize the connection between indoors and out, Gandhi included large covered decks.
Though the site offers no shortage of poetic appeal with its views to Peggys Cove Lighthouse and proximity to the water’s edge, its context introduces climate-related risks. The house’s steel and wood frame are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds.
