- Project: Five Cove Island House
- Architect: RHAD Architects
- Location: Canada, Marvins Island, Nova Scotia
- Year: 2021
- Area: 173 m2
- Photography: Julian Parkinson
A Coastal Retreat Defined by Five Coves and a Single Architectural Gesture
On the remote shoreline of Marvins Island in Nova Scotia, Five Cove Island House by RHAD Architects emerges as a sculptural yet grounded response to coastal conditions, isolation, and bespoke living. Perched amid five natural coves, the house both asserts its presence and recedes into the landscape, handling shelter, view, wind and sun with subtle precision.
Context & Site Strategy
The site is defined by its raw exposure to the Atlantic, its tidal movement and its small-scale drama of coves and rocky outcroppings. The design reads this environment and translates it into architectural moves: the home is organized as a low-profile shed-like form, rooted and elongated, its geometry shaped by the site’s contours and climatic demands.
Three distinct courtyards frame the living experience—each oriented for varying sun, wind and view conditions. The eastern deck opens to sweeping island views; a southern courtyard shelters arrival and garden activity; another zone offers protection from prevailing winds. These courtyards double as climate mediators and spatial forecourts.
Form, Materials and Interior Life
The house expresses a clear architectural language: a simple gabled (shed) form that has been “cut, pulled, flipped and extended” to accommodate program, orientation and weather. The roof and form read as references to local vernacular shed buildings, yet they are refined in execution—custom, contemporary and quietly bold.
Materially the project leans into regional authenticity and durability: Western red cedar, steel, glass and reclaimed barn boards are deployed with craft and restraint. In the living/dining/kitchen zone, exposed steel trusses lift the vaulted ceiling; the walls are clad in white-painted shiplap and one end wall uses salvaged barn boards to offer texture and warmth. Oversized patio doors on the east open the interior onto the deck, connecting inside and outside seamlessly.
Inside, the plan is split: a primary living area sits alongside a guest wing that can open up—a “cottage within a cottage” arrangement—to allow flexible use while maintaining cohesion. The interior finishes and layout emphasise clarity, connection to view, and adaptation to site. A wood-burning fireplace is tucked away from the view axis, so that the dramatic outside remains unobstructed.
Architecture that Responds to Coastal Conditions
RHAD Architects crafted a design that is attuned to wind, sun, rain and salt spray. The overhang on the east deck protects the large patio doors from driving rain and snow while allowing an exterior sitting area in less-than-ideal weather. slatted pergola and deck structures create play of light and shadow and function as lantern-like features at dusk. The orientation and courtyards allow for microclimatic management—choosing sheltered or exposed outdoor space depending on weather.
Why Five Cove Island House Matters
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Site-specific intelligence: The design doesn’t simply sit on the coast—it engages it, using orientation, courtyards and form to harness view, wind and sun.
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Vernacular reinterpreted: By echoing local shed forms and material palettes, the house roots itself in Nova Scotia’s building culture while delivering contemporary living.
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Quality in a modest footprint: At around 174 m², the home shows that refined architecture doesn’t require grand scale but thoughtful scale.
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Flexible living designed for nature: With guest zones, internal/external continuity and outdoor courtyards, the home is tailored for both solitude and sociality in a fragile environment.
Summary
Five Cove Island House by RHAD Architects stands as a compelling example of thoughtful coastal residential architecture. With its clean shed form, layered courtyards and material clarity, it merges regional character with modern living, and offers a clear vision for how architecture can inhabit remote, exposed landscapes with grace and resilience.
