Canadian studio founder Omar Gandhi the architect built a brick and cedar house for himself and his family in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with white oak interiors.
The home of Omar Gandhi, his partner and their son is located at the historic northern end of the city, and was built on an abandoned plot of land.
The building’s basement was also intended to serve as a studio for the architecture firm, but it has grown very quickly, so it is now used as a center for community projects.
Its shape consists of a two-storey white cedar-clad oriental box on a brick ground floor. The brick masonry continues as a thin vertical element on the near side of the adjacent dwelling.
Facing the street, cedar slats have been arranged to form a barrier across the large windows, to protect the privacy of occupants.
A rounded corner directs visitors to the main entrance in the back, through a corridor, then a patio and staircase paved with the same bricks used for the walls.
“The brick platform consists of one of two natural colors of clay bricks used in the area – orange, which is mostly used for regular building stock including multi-unit condominiums at the north end,” the company said.
Inside, a pill-shaped cabinet covered in raw steel provides a buffer between the studio space and the corridor leading to upstairs housing.
On the first ride, more raw steel forms a nine-foot-high door that conceals a powder room lined with wood and brick.
On this level is the open plan kitchen, dining and living area, where white oak panels cover the walls and ceiling, forming the floorboards.
The kitchen is located at the front of the house, partially hidden from view by cedar slices.
White mills make up the cabinetry and hide appliances along one wall, continuing into the living space to create additional storage.
The wooden kitchen island and large dining table feature one rounded end, mirroring the entryway’s pill-shaped feature, and together they are 30 feet (nine meters) long.
In the living area toward the back, a marble-clad fireplace stack interrupts the white millwork.
The roof here slopes gently upward, before turning almost vertically at the end of the building to create a double-height sliding under a skylight.
“Extensive lighting studies and parametric modeling were used to find the shape of the Lightwell to ensure optimal natural lighting conditions throughout the living space,” the studio said.
This lightwell is overlooked by one of the two bedrooms upstairs, which also has two bathrooms with full-length skylights and contrasting monochrome color schemes.
There is also a rooftop space, which includes a small sitting area and garden on the street side of the house.
The stair treads connecting these floors are lined with more white oak shingles, and include specially designed bronze brackets to support the balustrade.
Altogether, the materials used inside and outside the OG House create a cohesive palette that feels minimal, yet warm and inviting.
“By reaching the end of construction, the cedar-clad facade had already lost much of its vitality and gently faded to resemble much of the neighborhood’s woody trim, retaining much of its curious spirit,” the company said.
Omar Gandhi the engineer known for designing private housing throughout Nova Scotia, although many of them are in much more rural locations.
They include a low house on the rugged coast, a cabin over a remote bluff, and a hilltop home overlooking Halifax.
The studio, which has offices in Halifax and Toronto, also recently completed an accessible view of the Bigs Cove Lighthouse.
Photography by Emma Peter.
Project credits:
Architect team: Omar Gandhi, Jordan Rice, Jeff Shaw, Jeff Walker, Kelly Cameron, Lauren McCremon, John Gray Thompson, Christy MacDonald, Chad Jamison, Liam Thornwell, Stephanie Hussein
contractor: Hewn + Barter, MRB Contracting
structural: Andrea Doncaster Engineering
physical form: Chad Jamison and Omar Gandhi
Study to improve natural lighting: Laconie (Rolly Hudson)
Steel and Specialized Stone Fabrication: Philo Timo, Urban Crafts, Alain, Nova Tiles and Marble
Building: Naval Masonry, Brunswick Stone
Specialized Mills: Brody Chapel