Utility and Play – The Sandbox by Peter Braithwaite Studio

The Sandbox by Peter Braithwaite Studio is a three-storey timber-clad residence located along the Bay of Chaleur in the Canadian Province of New Brunswick. Conceived as a place of prospect and refuge for a young couple, this home illustrates a pleasing simplification of ideas and forms.

Having spent their childhood summers holidaying in the area with family and friends, the clients – Joshua and Chelsea Jenks – came to the project with an embedded emotional connection to this place. Further, Joshua’s work in the construction industry and consequent relationships with local trades laid the foundations for a collaborative partnership with Peter Braithwaite Studio. With incredible aspect and direct beach access, the site was highly desirable, and the decision to demolish the existing cottage, which, as Peter Braithwaite says, “had come to the end of its useful life”, created an opportunity for a contemporary structure.

Conceived as a place of prospect and refuge for a young couple, this home illustrates a pleasing simplification of ideas and forms.

The resulting home is a timber-clad rectangular form that protrudes from the landscape. A single opening framed in Corten steel penetrates the façade, and a boxy, Corten steel-clad staircase wraps the exterior, providing access to a rooftop terrace. These materials were selected in response to the harsh Atlantic climate and to reflect the local building culture and construction practices. As Peter says, “the eastern white cedar and weathering steel will allow the building’s facades to age with grace and, in time, seamlessly blend within the weathered landscape.”

Inside, the layout and materiality are similarly rationalised. The kitchen, living and dining areas are located on the ground floor where a palette of white birch and raw concrete floors make way for a serene and calming interior. A timber deck connects the internal spaces to the beach beyond and large windows frame panoramic views of the ocean. The level above contains the bedroom, which also benefits from expansive views and access to natural light, and the rooftop deck completes the layout. The home’s resounding minimalism is something Peter is most proud of, as he says, “although it has a very simple layout, very simple elevations and a simple form, we still feel the elevations are quite interesting and compositionally compelling.”

As Peter says, “the eastern white cedar and weathering steel will allow the building’s facades to age with grace and, in time, seamlessly blend within the weathered landscape.”

A process of restraint and refinement is central to this project – from the brief and scope to the design rationale and materiality. As Peter says, The Sandbox was “designed and built on a very humble budget.” He adds that “local connections to regional trades and manufacturers fostered lasting relationships between the architect, the client and community members that resulted in an elegant, well-crafted dwelling that will stand the test of time.”