Clockwise from opposite page: Sunlight warms the living room; the kitchen cabinets are made of local cherry; double sinks in the bathroom combine efficiency and luxe; a narrow bedroom window overlooks a huge boulder; a mat of cedar planks in the shower covers a bathtub. during the day and radiate warmth at night, even during the winter.( The concrete floor also collects the sun coming through southfacing windows, with a boost from a radiant heating system.) In the summer, air passing over these masses creates a kind of convection current that helps generate cross-breezes.“ The house really doesn’ t get hot at all,” says Fischer.“ You open the windows and the air just flows through.”
MacKay-Lyons’ s space-saving details are reminiscent of those found in old Nova Scotia farmhouses. Instead of a ladder, a delicately counterweighted stair drops down to access a loft that does double duty as a study and as sleeping quarters for the Fischers’ son, Nicholas. Built-in storage, made of locally sourced and milled cherry, also abounds. Meanwhile, the house feels more extensive than it is because each of the rooms faces a different direction, with the great room overlooking the sea, the bedroom conversing with the boulder, and the loft with east and west exposures.
The owners are spending summers and holidays in their new gem.“ When we’ re there we spend most of our time outside,” says Fischer. Like many Nova Scotians, the Fischers are considering turning the getaway into their full-time residence. Indeed, following the pack is what their house does best. Without resorting to much high technology, this rugged version of a beachfront cottage went green by emulating its predecessors. ■
plentymag. com Feb / Mar / 07 | 65