The White Rock house by Omar Gandhi Architects takes cues from camouflaged duck blinds and hunting cabins, perching above a steep, rocky incline in Nova Scotia, Canada, surrounded by farmland. The distinctively shaped observation structure features corten steel cladding and provides panoramic views of the Gaspereau River Valley.
Inside, smoked oak panels line the minimal interiors designed for rejuvenation, with carefully placed windows and Belgium linens creating a tranquil, blended relationship with the lush, forested surroundings.

Corten-Clad Observation Structure
On the exterior, large windows overlook the Gaspereau River Valley on the north, while narrow windows frame distant natural features to the east and west, respectively. Although its shape is distinct, the simple structure is meant to appear subdued within the context of nature, according to Gandhi.
“We envisioned White Rock as a nature observatory ? a place for shelter and repose high above the forest canopy where the only distractions are the distant changes in the sky and the moment-to-moment sounds of the forests; a place where simply sitting and staring can disarm and renew a weary soul,” Gandhi told.
“It’s a very simple, geometric form hovering above its forest floor; it’s not inherently connected to a style or a place, just itself and its parts,” he continued. “Yet it optimally finds its place within the context of the site and the landscape and the atmosphere....