Ridge on the Chimney: Authentic Hospitality

Located between the uplands and cliffs overlooking the Northumberland Strait on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Ridge on the Chimney is a group of four cottages set in the striking landscape of Chimney Corner.

Designed by Canadian practice MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, the hospitality facility was conceived to celebrate and share a place of pristine natural beauty.

Ridge on the Chimney: A close connection to place

The studio’s design reflects the principle of economy and place, according to which architecture is both context sensitive and economical in its use of resources and forms, which resemble natural elements of the surrounding landscape.

The approach is on show in Ridge on the Chimney’s geometries, which draw on the vernacular of local barns and fish shacks. The four buildings align along a natural north–south ridge, following the site’s topography and dialoguing with the natural rhythm of the landscape. 

The exterior architecture addresses the region’s harsh climate with wood cladding and zero-eaves detailing designed to withstand the powerful local winds, which can exceed 200 km/h.

The vernacular architecture is reinterpreted through a contemporary lens to respond to its hospitality function. Local materials, handcrafted furniture, and essential finishes convey an authenticity that strengthens connection to place.

A balance between private and social

Four buildings make up the complex: two single-bedroom bunkies and two larger cabins with two bedrooms and a loft space. The project balances the private and social, with the bedrooms providing intimacy and shelter, while the common areas connect directly with nature through daylight, views, and continuity between interior and exterior. This balance shapes the guest experience, with a sense of domestic security coexisting with the freedom of the landscape.

A covered entrance to the cabins is recessed into the volume, marking the transition to the interior. From here, guests enter a double-height space, in which the kitchen, dining, and living areas are combined. A glazed wall frames the horizon, making the panorama of boundless wild nature, cliffs, beaches, the ocean, and a dense woodland the project’s principal focus.

At the foot of the hill, a communal gathering space includes an outdoor kitchen with barbecue, seating, and a large fire pit.

The project is part of a broader plan that will include future expansion with additional residences, a wellness area, and more private cottages. The aim is to continue to create an area that reinforces the relationship between hospitality, nature, and local identity.

Ridge on the Chimney is sensitive, conscious architecture that fosters authentic connections and a renewed sense of belonging to place.

>>> Also discover East Dover House by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, a home overlooking the Atlantic