Les Boucanières Residence, New Brunswick, Canada

Les Boucanières Residence in New Brunswick

March 27, 2026

Architects: Nordais Architecture

Location: Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, northeast Canada

Photos by Félix Michaud

Located on the shores of Caraquet Bay, this newly built home draws from family history and the architectural heritage of the Acadian Peninsula.

The design sensitively reinterprets the town’s first local herring smokehouse, built in 1945 by the homeowner’s grandfather and later destroyed by a hurricane, carrying its memory forward through form, materiality, and spatial composition.

The house unfolds in two dark wood-clad volumes that evoke the charred tone of the former smokehouse. A lighter central volume containing the vestibule connects them, reducing the perceived mass, enhancing natural light, and creating a fluid transition between spaces. Rooted in local vernacular traditions yet expressed in a contemporary architectural language, the project balances restraint with clarity.

Organized on a single level, the home responds to the occupants’ daily needs while framing panoramic views of Caraquet Bay to the north. Carefully positioned openings maximize daylight and maintain privacy from the busy boulevard to the south.

Cedar ceilings, stone accents, and integrated white oak millwork create a warm, cohesive interior atmosphere. Through precise detailing and a craft-based approach, the project celebrates memory, landscape, and the enduring resonance of place.