Skip to main content

A Seaside Cabin Offers the Chance to Get Fully Immersed in Nature

Rocky seashores, rolling tree-covered hills, and dramatic weather. Few places in the world offer the raw beauty of Nova Scotia. It’s a stunning landscape perfect for encouraging nature lovers to fully immerse themselves in their surroundings. And there’s no better way to feel immersed in nature than to “float” above it all. Cliff House provides that experience thanks to its precarious position, perched over the edge of a bedrock bluff.

Greg Richardson

Designed by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects Limited as the first in a series of homes, Cliff House is all about focusing on nature. Located on a 455-acre property, the cabin is a weekend retreat intended to create a heightened connection to the outdoors. What at first appears to be an austere wooden box sitting snugly on the edge of the land, Cliff House actually hangs out over the land. Supported by a galvanized steel superstructure, the home extends out past the edge of the cliff it sits on. The result is a dwelling as dramatic as the Nova Scotian weather.

In creating Cliff House, several challenging elements, like crazy weather and a limited budget, were met head-on by the team. The weather in this area experiences extremes, shifting constantly between wet and dry seasons and freeze/thaw cycles. This means strict building codes to ensure structures stand up to it all. Using an innovative technique, the folks at MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple first built a steel support structure that can be seen inside of the cabin. Next, they applied the exterior shell using an “outsalation” method: wood cladding and framing that is also seen from inside. This allowed the cabin to be cost-effective and remain sturdy yet lightweight, setting the stage for the dramatic extension out over the cliff.

Greg Richardson

At just 960 square feet, Cliff House is on the smaller side, but offers plenty of space to function as a weekend getaway. The open plan of the interior along with double-height ceilings make the home feel spacious. Furnishings are minimalist style, allowing the focus to stay on the beauty of the natural surroundings. The large family room is made up of a simple sitting area with two armchairs, a black wood dining table, and a kitchenette next to a wood-burning stove. A row of glazing wrapping around the water-facing south side of the home lets in plenty of natural light to help keep the cabin bright and welcoming. These windows are also the key focal point of the design — it’s where visitors will get that “immersed in nature” experience.

Greg Richardson

In choosing to have Cliff House extend out beyond the edge of the bluff, the design team was creating an experiential moment for visitors. Stepping up to the wall of windows causes a sudden sensation of vertigo — there’s nothing to see below you but the rocky shore and the water beyond. It’s enough to send your stomach into your throat. But that thrilling feeling slowly morphs into a sense that you are more at one with nature in that moment. Who knew architecture could be so poetic?

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
The writer of one of Netflix’s biggest drama is taking on James Bond next
We still don't know who will star in this new installment.
James Bond at a casino

The news that Denis Villeneuve would be taking on the next James Bond film was certainly exciting for many, and as we continue to speculate about who might take over as 007, we're also learning more about who else will be working behind the scenes on the film.

We now know that Steven Knight, the writer behind Peaky Blinders, will be writing the next Bond movie. While Knight is best known for his work on TV, which includes Peaky Blinders and the recent Stephen Graham series A Thousand Blows, he's also the writer behind Spencer and Maria.

Read more
Every new Game of Thrones spinoff explained
George R.R. Martin's television world continues to grow
Matt Smith starring in House of the Dragon

When it first aired on HBO in the early 2010s, Game of Thrones dazzled audiences with revolutionary special effects and terrific acting in a unique fantasy world. Based on author George R.R. Martin's series of novels, the universe depicts the battles between several different noble families as they try to climb to the top of the continent of Westeros, both politically and figuratively. The war scenes, family drama, and massive number of characters helped make the story feel fresh and new every time a new episode aired.

As Martin's attention shifted to television and away from his books, fans have looked to the TV series to finish some of the stories he couldn't finish on the page. Game of Thrones left fans wanting more, despite its poorly received finale, and a plethora of spinoffs are on the way. House of the Dragon already has two seasons completed, and there are several others in the coming years to look forward to.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon finished its second season in 2024. The show chronicles the heated family dynamics of the Targaryen empire almost two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. The third season should pick up the civil war between Queen Rhaenyra's forces and King Aegon's after a slow-building conflict throughout the second act.

Read more
The ultimate guide to cigar terminology: Speak like a true aficionado
The ‘I definitely know my cigars’ cheat sheet. You're welcome.
Man wearing top hat lighting a cigar in a bar

You're not the only one who has felt out of your league talking cigars with someone who obviously knows his stuff, trust me. To everyone else, the cigar world is a secret society with its own language—a mix of tradition, craftsmanship, and ritual that may as well be code to the onlooker. But here’s the secret–you don’t need years of puffing to sound like an aficionado.

This guide explains cigar jargon in the most approachable way possible. No BS, no elitism, no jargon— just straight talk in plain, everyday words. You’ll learn the basic structure of cigars, how to describe what you’re tasting, and how to talk shop without sounding like a rookie. Whether you’re sparking up at a lounge, perusing a humidor, or just kicking back, having the lingo effortlessly rolling off your tongue will elevate your cigar game instantly.

Read more