Chester House by Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects: A Minimal Coastal Retreat in Nova Scotia

Nestled within the forested landscape of Chester, a serene oceanside village on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, Chester House by Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects exemplifies the power of simplicity in contemporary residential architecture. Designed for Clare Morris, a Seattle-based client seeking to reconnect with her Canadian roots, the 1,350-square-foot dwelling embodies the architect’s ongoing exploration of creating maximal spatial experience through minimal form, material, and cost.

The client’s brief was clear: a modest and functional house that simply “feels good.” The result is a structure that merges restraint and warmth, offering a thoughtful balance between modern minimalism and vernacular craftsmanship. The architecture engages in a dialogue of contrasts — simplicity and sophistication, solidity and weightlessness, shadow and light — resulting in a space that feels both timeless and grounded in its coastal setting.

Tucked discreetly among the trees, the house is elevated on a cedar platform that doubles as a porch and open-air living space, seamlessly extending the home into nature. The lower level is wrapped in matchbook cedar shiplap, a traditional Nova Scotian construction technique historically used for boats and coastal dwellings, grounding the project in regional identity. Above it, a weathered steel sleeve slides over the timber base, creating a visual tension between permanence and impermanence. The clean detailing of eaves, corners, and openings enhances the minimalist expression while subtly undermining architectural expectations.

Inside, the ground floor accommodates two compact bedrooms and an origami-like perforated steel staircase—a sculptural element that folds upward to the main living spaces. On the upper level, the living and dining areas open to views of the forest canopy, while adjacent spaces—kitchen, washroom, and covered balcony—radiate from the central hearth, reinforcing the home’s sense of community and warmth. Lofts tucked beneath the gables serve as flexible zones for storage or additional sleeping areas.

The interior aesthetic follows the same principle of reduction. Monochromatic surfaces and sparse furnishings invite natural light to animate the rooms, while expansive windows dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior. The shifting patterns of sunlight and shadow transform the home throughout the day, celebrating the intimate connection between architecture and landscape.

Chester House stands as a contemporary reflection of Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects’ philosophy—an architecture that honors place, material, and simplicity, while achieving poetic harmony between human comfort and the natural world.

All Photographs are works of James Brittian