The Shobac Cottages.
The first glimpse of the Shobac property – located in Upper Kingsburg, Nova Scotia – is awe-inspiring, with its immaculate grounds, ethereal ocean views, and the contrast of the modern architecture set against the spacious footprint of the surrounding farmland.
Designed and constructed by Nova Scotia native Brian MacKay-Lyons of the internationally acclaimed and award-winning firm MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, the Shobac property is a site that has been passed from hand to hand for centuries. Located on the cliffs overlooking the LaHave Estuary, named by French explorer Samuel De Champlain, the site was ideal for making his first landfall in the new world in 1604 where it was established as an Acadian fishing/farming village. Later it was settled by the German, Swiss and French Protestants for agricultural use in 1755. Though the community was abandoned in the mid-20th century, it did however continue as an in-shore fishing port until the 1970s. In 1988, Brian MacKay-Lyons began re-clearing the land, cultivating it to re-create an agricultural village at the edge of the world.
Today, the Shobac property is very much a blend of old and new with Brian’s signature modern design set against the backdrop of what was once historic village ruins. We had the opportunity to visit the Shobac site with a guided tour by Brian himself. Prior to our arrival, we were well educated on the site’s history and Brian’s architectural style and influence, but it wasn’t until we met Brian and got to hear and experience his passion for cultivating this site first hand that we fully appreciated the richness and grandeur of this remarkable property. There is a sense of family woven throughout the property, providing a sense of warmth against the vastness of the property. That was immediately made evident upon our arrival with Brian out tending to the grounds, his wife preparing supper in the nearby studio, the family dogs milling about the property and their daughter’s horses grazing in the field.
The Shobac site reflects Brian’s beliefs that architecture shouldn’t be about consuming the landscape, but about finding was to frame and enhance it. Brian has achieved that perfect balance with a footprint that consists of four identical simplistic, modern cottages, a historic octagonal Troop Barn that Brian has breathed new life into, an old Chebogue Schoolhouse that was transported to the property and fully restored as a livable quarters and a sleek ultra-modern studio.
Visitors to Nova Scotia’s South Shore often flock to the quiet little B&Bs, small town inns or the resident motel to seek accommodation during their stay in Nova Scotia’s South Shore, but for those who are a little more discerning, and whose tastes sway more towards the contemporary, the Shobac property is a unique alternative to traditional accommodations.
Each of the four rustic contemporary cottages available for rent (aptly named after the four vantage points from the property – Hirtles, Gaff, LaHave and Mosher) are designed with sleek, simplistic finishes and outfitted with all the amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, TV/DVD and wireless internet. The large deck off the living space and upper deck off the loft bedroom provide amazing views of the land and sea. Each cottage offers an open second level loft with a queen bed and a bedroom with two twin beds on the main floor. Two additional overflow sleeping places exist off the living space.
The property is outfitted to keep guests well entertained, with an on-site boathouse stocked with kayaks and fishing gear, a friendly herd of sheep for little ones to play with, horseback riding lessons provided by Brian’s daughter, tons of open space for some solitary yoga and plenty of nooks for quiet reading. For the culinary-minded, Shobac has barbecues on-site as well as an impressive herb and vegetable garden that has everything under the sun to whip up a fresh salad. We got to sample the beautiful heirloom tomatoes and some arugula so we can vouch for the lush offerings from the garden!
In unison, all of the site’s structures make the property a perfect location for a wedding, workshop or corporate retreat and Shobac has played host to some high-profile individuals seeking a unique retreat space, including Cirque du Soleil founder and a certain famous Indian-American alternative medicine new age guru (hint: name rhymes with Oprah) to name a few.
For an up-close look at the cottages, take a peek at this video:
The cottages can be rented through Cottage Connection. For more information about Brian MacKay-Lyons and the MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects visit them at mlsarchitects.ca.
