03 Oct 2025
Ridge On The Chimney is a collection of four rental cottages situated in the remote rural community of Chimney Corner on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia—a world-renowned destination celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. Overlooking Chimney Corner Beach and the Northumberland Strait, the buildings—referred to as “cabins” and “bunkies”—accommodate between two and six people. The project includes two 1-bedroom bunkies, measuring 515 and 575 square feet, respectively, and two 2-bedroom-plus-bunk cabins, each spanning 1,275 square feet.
For the client behind Ridge On The Chimney, this project is far more than a hospitality venture—it’s a heartfelt expression of place, identity, and care.
“We’re in the smiles and memories business,” says founder and Cape Breton native Scott Fitzgerald. “Having grown up here, it gives me joy to share this little piece of paradise with the world.”
Ridge On The Chimney represents their deep-rooted love for Cape Breton and a desire to offer something truly meaningful to others: a destination that blends sensitive design with the warmth of Canadian craftsmanship. Every detail, from handpicked local furnishings to the soulful rhythm of coastal life, reflects their passion for creating connection—between guests, nature, and each other. It isn’t just about beautiful stays; it’s about creating unforgettable moments that resonate long after the journey ends.
A collaborative vision rooted in regional architecture
Conceived as a cluster of simple, wood-clad gabled forms, the cottages are positioned along a north-south “ridge” in the landscape. To the west, the land drops dramatically over cliffs into the Northumberland Strait, while to the east, it rises into the mountains beyond. The architectural language references the local vernacular, drawing inspiration from gabled agricultural barns and coastal fish shacks. The buildings assume a “taut skin” form, availing themselves of zero-eaves detailing, and are designed to withstand the powerful “Les Suêtes” winds—a local weather phenomenon that brings sustained speeds of up to 100 km/h and gusts reaching 200 km/h.
Entry corner “bites” are recessed to provide shelter upon arrival, leading to a compressed entry sequence that transitions to a vaulted living, kitchen, and dining space, with expansive glazing that frames breathtaking views of Chimney Corner Beach and the surrounding natural landscape. The buildings are designed to offer guests a sense of ‘refuge’ and ‘prospect’ – the bedrooms provide a sense of protection and privacy (refuge), while the main living areas foster a strong connection to the landscape (prospect) through open, expansive layouts and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions.
Set just down the hill from the cottages, a communal area invites guests to gather and connect at a shared outdoor kitchen that includes a firepit, seating, and a BBQ, where guests can cook together outdoors. This supported the client’s vision of wanting to create a hospitality space where guests have a sense of privacy and personal retreat in their “bunkie” or “cabin”, while simultaneously fostering opportunities for connection and a shared sense of community throughout their stay.
Rooted in the ethos of “economy and place”, the design blends traditional geometries with modern detailing, using minimal materials to create a significant architectural impact that enriches Chimney Corner’s landscape, while fostering meaningful connections between people and place.
“This project embodies and celebrates our practice’s values of cultural responsiveness to local landscapes, climate, and material culture,” states Shane Andrews, Partner and Senior Project Architect. “Our work is known for its poetic and sensitive architecture that is often defined by its quiet strength, simplicity, and honesty.”
This project is part of a more ambitious masterplan which will include a spa, additional cottages, and a series of private homes.
Location
Chimney Corner, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Completion date
Fall 2023
Client
Ridge On The Chimney
Project Size
One Bedroom Bunkies: 515 & 575 SF
Two-Bedroom Cabins: 1275 SF
Project Team
Architecture: MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects
Design Lead: Brian MacKay-Lyons
Project Architect: Shane Andrews
Project Team: Talbot Sweetapple, Paryse Beatty, Isaac Fresia, & Matthew MacKay-Lyons
Structural Consultants: Andrea Doncaster
Builder: Cape Breton West Construction
Collaborators
Lighting: Hollis + Morris
Wood Stove: Stûv
Wood-fired Hot Tub: AlumiTub
Dining Tables: Woodstock & Cie
Cookware: Meyers
Mattresses: Obasan
Duvets: Northern Feather Canada
Blankets: MacAusland
Planters: Veradek
Propane Firebowls: DreamCast
Adirondack Chairs: CR Plastics
BBQ: Napoleon
Outdoor Table: Toja Grid
MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects is primarily based in Halifax and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada, and North Adams, MA, USA, with a field office in Colorado. The practice works locally and internationally on cultural, academic, and residential projects, providing full architectural, urban design, and interior design services. There are four principals: Brian MacKay-Lyons, Talbot Sweetapple, Melanie Hayne, and Shane Andrews.
Since 1985, the practice has built an international reputation for design excellence, confirmed by over 170 awards, including the prestigious 2017 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture. Brian MacKay-Lyons was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Gold Medal in 2015, and MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects received the RAIC Firm Award in 2014.
The firm has also won eight Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, seven American Institute of Architects National and International Honour Awards of Architecture, eighteen Lieutenant Governor’s Medals of Excellence, nine Canadian Architect Awards, four Architectural Record Houses Awards, and fourteen North American Wood Design Awards. In addition, the firm’s work has been featured internationally in over 900 publications, including eight monographs and 100 exhibitions.
Both Brian MacKay-Lyons and Talbot Sweetapple are Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC). Brian MacKay-Lyons is also a Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA). He was named Honorary International Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (Hon. Int. FAIA) in 2001 and was made Honorary International Fellow by the Royal Institute of British Architects (Hon. Int. FRIBA) in 2016. In 2022, he was appointed to the Order of Canada for his contribution to Canadian culture.
Both Brian MacKay-Lyons and Talbot Sweetapple have been active in architectural education, Brian as a retired full professor and faculty member at Dalhousie University for 37 years, and Talbot as an adjunct professor since 1997 and now as an associate professor. Together, they have held 18 endowed academic chairs and visiting professorships at leading universities worldwide, such as the Peter Behrens School of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis, and Harvard University. They have also given more than 220 public lectures on their work worldwide. In 2024, Brian MacKay-Lyons was awarded an honorary doctorate – Doctor of Laws, honoris causa – from Dalhousie University.
