Studio Lapstrake
Annapolis Valley Barn + Juicerie
Location: Port Williams, NS
Client: Private
Status: Under construction
The Annapolis Valley is shaped by a distinct microclimate formed by the North Mountain, the Canard River Valley, and the Bay of Fundy, conditions that have sustained orchards and vineyards for generations. Set on a family-owned orchard overlooking the valley, this project expands the client’s organic juicemaking capacity through an agricultural barn that has a workshop and juice production facility.
The building is organized as two double-height workspaces separated by a central service core and storage loft, which braces the structure against winter winds descending from the North Mountain. At the western end, facing a linden allée, a diaphanous screen filters light and mediates views into the juicing space. To the east, the building anchors its shoulder into the ground, with work surfaces embedding into the terrain in contrast with the lightweight nature of its West-facing gable.
The building is clad in rough-sawn hemlock from a local sawmill, prioritizing natural finishes and nontoxic, biogenic materials.