Nova Tayona Architects and the Lockeport Beach House

Canadian studio Nova Tayona Architects won the Green Architecture category of the 2017 American Architecture Prize with Lockeport Beach House, where respect for the natural site informs the architectural project.


When architects are asked to build a house in a dramatic, sheltered location with a mandate to protect it, they need to consider lots of issues. On the one hand, the desire to really enjoy the nature and the other to keep the building's impact on the site as minimal as possible.
A dilemma addressed by Canadian firm Nova Tayona Architects with great elegance and minimum impact on the south shore of Nova Scotia where Lockeport Beach House stands on a forested sandbar where a river empties out into the Atlantic. 
The architects elevated the house on helical piles sinking 6 metres into the sand. This minimised excavation, tree clearing and sandbank erosion. The asymmetrical gabled roof provides shade for the patio and interiors in the summer and allows the low winter sun to warm the concrete floors in the cold season. Indeed, Lockeport Beach House faces south-west to take advantage of passive solar orientation.
A rainwater harvesting system fills three, 6700 litres cisterns, providing the sole source of water for the house.
The project by Nova Tayona Architects is the response to the desire of the clients to respect the forest site beside the sea, so much so that they didn't want the tree line cleared to reveal the view of the Atlantic. They appreciate hearing the ocean without seeing the beach. This means Lockeport Beach House blends in harmoniously and delicately with the inherent beauty of nature here and is an example of a virtuous design where the role of “landmark” is left to the real star: nature.
This decision won Nova Tayona Architects the 2017 American Architecture Prize in the “Green Architecture” category.

Project: Nova Tayona Architects http://novatayonaarchitects.com/
General Contractor: Trunnells and Tenons Construction
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Year:  2016
Area: 205 m2
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Thanks to v2com