The Blue House

The Blue House

Supported by the North End Community Health Centre, the Blue House is a housing project for African Nova Scotians facing barriers to housing. Omar Gandhi Architect partnered with Eric Stotts Architect for this community-based studio initiative. The project aims to create a space to support healing and well-being for its residents.

Located in the historic North End of Halifax, this new home for eleven individuals, is situated adjacent to the historic New Horizons Baptist Church (founded in 1832). The team completely renovated a vacant house that had fallen into disrepair, shoring up the existing foundation, repairing the existing structure, making energy efficiency upgrades, and re-imagining the floor plan. It was important that each level include communal areas for gathering and sharing meals as well as comfortable private bedrooms. To create more generous housing units, the original stairs were moved to a new stair and entry volume. This entry volume steps back from the main building form to accommodate a welcoming entry stair and porch. 

The design reintroduces symmetry to the building façade which, over the years, had become a mismatched patchwork of windows and entries. New large windows provide plenty of natural light and ventilation. The deteriorating vinyl siding was replaced with deep navy-blue wood siding, a nod to the wood textures and traditional colourful houses in the neighbourhood. The existing dormers were replaced with a modern take on the traditional form: clean-lined metal shrouds. This language was translated to metal window surrounds below which are angled to follow the property line, giving a subtle gestural quality to the building facade. On the upper levels, the dormers frame calming views of the Halifax Harbour and Saint George’s Round Church. Through thoughtful interventions, the existing house transformed into a dignified building, helping to restore the character of the streetscape and respecting the individuals that will call it home.

This project would not have been possible without generous donations from Jeld-Wen, Maibec and Keel Architectural Products. 

Project Status
Completed Summer 2022

Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Clients
North End Community Health Centre

Architect Team
Omar Gandhi, Eric Stotts, Kelly Cameron, Toby Otti, Kaitlin Wierstra, Jeff Shaw, Jordan Rice

Contractor
Dora Construction 

Structural
Andrea Doncaster Engineering

Photography
Julian Parkinson