This New Brunswick home resolves several competing and atypical requirements. How do we design for family life while accommodating large gatherings? And how can a building of this scale sensitively fit within its landscape and context?

The home sits atop a picturesque hill between farmed fields and a strip of forest overlooking a gentle bend in the river. Defined by two distinct forms – private sleeping spaces in one and social spaces in another – the building’s interiors bridge the architecture with an entirely new landscape connected to the surrounding context.

Sleeping areas are nestled against the existing treeline and oriented to capture the eastern morning light, supporting the daily rhythms of family life. Social spaces convey an outward focus with expansive views of the river bend and meadow, while vaulted ceilings with skylights bring a sense of openness and connection to the sky. Joining the sleeping and social spaces is the dining room, a pivotal space positioned at the heart of the house. It is versatile enough to host intimate meals or expand to accommodate gatherings of up to 20 people. Inspired by nearby bridge structures, we integrated local architectural vernacular with contemporary design elements and materials, such as stone and cedar. These echo the regional vernacular while providing durability and timelessness. We worked closely with a local landscape architecture studio to develop a place where landscape and architecture overlap, blend, and feel integrated through several formal and unprogrammed elements prioritizing outdoor living. Overall, the home combines two seemingly disparate intentions: an assertive formal expression linked to an idyllic landscape that balances intimate domesticity with larger family and hosted events.