An Architects Own Home Designed for Him & His Young Family (House Tour)

OG House by Omar Gandhi is an architects own home in Halifax, the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Defined by a deft understanding of light and form, it is a deeply personal home and a compelling piece of architecture, as seen in The Local Project’s house tour.
As the project’s architect, Omar, says, the brief for this home was to create a house for his family as well as a new studio space for his budding practice. As it happens, his architecture studio grew rapidly over the course of the build, and as such, the ground floor studio space is now an extension of his original waterfront studio and a place to work on community projects with his team. This project illustrates a seamless understanding of how domestic and non-domestic principles can coexist within an architects own home.
The footprint of this house was heavily defined by the site and its setbacks from abutting properties and to the street. Cleverly, Omar has used these parameters to gently guide the architecture and ensuing build. In the house tour of an architects own home, Omar highlights the site’s various constraints, which have been reinterpreted as opportunities in designing a compelling piece of architecture. As Omar says, “the volume was resolved from the outset, so it became a process of articulation and sculpting, and in some cases, sacrificing overall square footage for moments of joy, delight and surprise.”
Inside, the layout has been conceived as a direct response to Omar and his family’s patterns of living. The main entrance is located at the back of the house, and it leads guests through a lounge area - Omar’s favourite spot for a morning coffee - into the studio, which is set deeper into the plan. On the second floor, there is a small bathroom as well as the kitchen, dining and living room. Another flight of stairs takes visitors to the primary bedroom level, and an additional level above contains Omar’s son’s bedroom as well as a guest bathroom.
The home exudes the essence of an architects own home, as every element of the design - from the architecture and interior design to the materials and furnishings - are cohesive and curated with consideration. The ceiling in the primary living area sits on an incline, opening the space gradually and allowing for an abundance of natural light in this integral part of the home. This effect is illustrated in the house tour, which reveals the sense of scale.
The interior design is highly complementary to the architecture. Further, it is the ideal canvas upon which the soft, indirect light plays throughout the house. The primary materials for both the interior and exterior include white oak, buffed brick, neutral colours of stone and raw steel custom fabricated for this project. Their meticulous curation is telling of an architects own home.
As Omar says of the interior design, notions around light and sculpted space became central to the rationale for OG House and the result is a home that exudes a singular quality of light and a surprising sense of volume. This is emblematic of the aspect of OG House that Omar is most proud of. As he says, “from the street, looking at the building, it’s actually quite closed off, but on the inside, it’s so light-filled, highly textured and really warm - it’s a wonderful duality that we were able to achieve.”
00:00 - Introduction to the Architects Own Home
00:55 - The Family Centred Brief
01:58 - The Layout and Walkthrough of the Home
03:42 - A Focus on the Light and Sculpted Areas
04:28 - The Neutral Material Palette
04:59 - Customised Furniture Pieces
05:57 - Proud Moments and Favourite Aspects
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Photography by Pablo Veiga.
Architecture and Interior Design by Omar Gandhi Architects.
Build by MRB Contracting and Hewn + Barter.
Structural Engineering by Andrea Doncaster Engineering.
Filmed and Edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Project.
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in Canada. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
#AnArchitectsOwnHome #Canada #DreamHome

[@TheLocalProject]

We hope you enjoyed the captivating OG House by Omar Gandhi in Halifax, Nova Scotia! This architect’s own home is not just a residence but a testament to the harmonious blend of personal living spaces and professional creativity. For more of the latest and greatest in architecture, interior design and house tours, be sure to order a copy of our book ‘10’: thelocalproject.com.au/product/10-celebrating-10-issues-of-the-local-project/

[@ivanklymenko]

🥰

[@dripslobber]

Props to you for mentioning the craftsman by name. It's refreshing when someone isn't so self absorbed that they can allow someone else to share in the credits.

[@mutchmedia]

Nice to see a Canadian home. Great solution to a small footprint with neighbouring properties, hence the lack of traditional window views. Well done.

[@TheLocalProject]

We agree!

[@jakubpodesva9802]

Well, at least the cat has a really dream view to surroundings :D But jokes aside, it really is beautiful building both outside and inside to me. The skylights are gorgeous, I can imagine living in such space.

[@littleviolagirl]

He designed Matty Matheson's new restaurant in TO. Love his use of wood and textured stone

[@TyLagaceLifts]

Omar Gandhi’s works are always so thoughtful, their projects are all over the east coast and really sit well in their settings - love seeing more of their work!

[@TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam]

It's truly fascinating to see how their professional expertise and personal style merge seamlessly in every corner of their home.🏡

[@charlesacton]

Wonderful project and its description from OG was delightful.

[@AliQamber-rh3tj]

why is that cat so CHAD-like

[@kayelyward8714]

Beautiful Home! So warm and comfortable inside. It's very lovely!

[@piumisomarathna2032]

Love the materials and detailing ❤

[@benkovy]

Wow I’ve been watching this channel forever and never did I think it would feature a site I walk by often! Let’s go North End Halifax!!!

[@keithronson2624]

Such an interesting home. Yes a real home. Clever use of space. The material pallet and choice of materials is superb. Yes! A star home.

[@EvasNan2020]

What a beautiful home, looks like it would be cosy and calm to live in x

[@esbliss13]

Automatic like for the adorable tabby.😍

[@mentarchitecture639]

Fantastic work as usual. Hats off to Omar Gandhi and The Local Project team! What a unique home.

[@TheLocalProject]

💙

[@davidalanmedia]

Stunning home, especially love the finishes and sense of privacy.

[@user-xo6in3yr5t]

Absolutely! I couldn't agree more

[@Nalanrd]

That's a cool looking cat :)

[@user-db5ci6fz1j]

That lighthouse at 0:46 is definitely at Lighthouse Park in Vancouver and not on the east coast. :D

[@10sassafras]

I think I’m with the cat. I love an outlook although the interior is really very impressive.

[@kpacubo.]

gorgeous. i love the idea of floor level windows

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

4:00 There is joy and delight and surprise in this space? Huh.....okay.

[@OHANA-Beach-Suites]

BEAUTIFUL HOME! ❤❤❤

[@lizasoliman723]

the interior is such a surprise, with a well-orchestrated journey of moving through the home. i knew that table was bespoke. splendidly done, a designer's dream come reality!

[@freddiebonifacio9158]

#OGarchitects - my new favorite!

[@themrgumbatron]

The most simple and powerful use of volume. An amazing execution of restraint in ones own personal home is commendable.

[@chuckandary7115]

Beautiful home really tastefully done

[@ksc2934]

The wood materials look amazing

[@jamesperrie5621]

Exquisite home

[@Studio_PA]

Amazing home and really interesting guy!

[@paranoidhumanoid]

Love it.

[@Thaomcconnell]

not even done the video and I just have to come on here to say Bravo!

[@louishb6438]

Banger !

[@yeaimzeus]

This is a very nice home!!

[@adriluda]

The cat looks very relaxed 🤍☕

[@luckyleaprealestate]

Thank you Home Tour❤

[@inspiredidler]

Gorgeous ❤

[@ginacrusco234]

Wonderful design that must lend itself to comfortable living. I assumed when I saw the buff brick exterior that it was inherited from a previous structure, but no reference was made to that....

[@sutats]

He kind of sounds like Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller describing his best friend, Cameron's house. _The place is like a museum. It's very beautiful and very cold, and you're not allowed to touch anything.._

[@nikolay6865]

🙋🏼‍♂️🙂😍This is so, so beautiful... It's amazing, it inspired me, it's a masterpiece, in my opinion😅I also liked the car... I must also mention that the editing of the clip is superb.

[@souly25life]

the side entrance with parking ,glass doors to let in natural light and privacy from the street. goood design.

[@ovejanegra7355]

Not a fan of houses with such small windows, that would be my only complaint. I loved the extensive use of wood. The kitchen is beautiful too. The best part of the video is the judgemental cat hahaha.

[@adriluda]

The cat 🤍

[@AB-ol5uz]

the placement of the windows on the main floor is awkward to me - seeing the car instead of the sky/longer view doesn't make sense to me.

[@timcarrington5977]

Great house. Very unexpected for Halifax. Only thing I would miss, would be private outdoor space.

[@clubsobri]

Cool home and cool car!!!

[@mivacalola]

Amazing

[@KittyXCross]

So beautiful, Omar! Some of the fenestration and the light quality feel like Peter Zumthor's chapel. The low positioning of some of the windows was a terrific decision.

[@petit-crampon]

The lack of windows...mmm...I need more natural light...and greens... But I love the choice of materials and colours👌

[@user-qj6ds7ff2u]

incredible! true talent! having said that, what captivated me the most, prompting every hair on my body to stand on end, was the background music, particularly starting at 4:45 minutes. Could someone please share the source of this piano piece?

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Another great Canadian home. Some very well done details, that are likely overlooked by the casual observer. The palette of colours is very neutral but still creates relatively bold contrasts. The choice of windows in the living room somewhat escapes me, although we are not privy to what the potential view is on that face of the house. Very well done, overall. Certainly a striking showpiece.

[@alexandromilos4422]

living room reminds me a Walace 'office' from Bladerunner 2049

[@audioisgood]

This is very beautiful, however, I would’ve appreciated. Someone actually interviewing him of camera versus him reading off the teleporter. I think that would come off more natural and warm me to what he’s saying.

[@samurisnark6940]

The producers are based in Australia, no? They probably couldn't have had someone fly over to Canada just to interview him hence the script.

[@Lunarl4ndr]

I can imagine scraping my knees using the toilet and then turning the corner to see a 3 story open living room and the special feeling that might swell up inside

[@jamesalexander780]

I love Omar Ghandi’s work especially the materials choices here, but I just am not sure about the tiny windows in the living room

[@kyles6583]

Weird how your dreamy, soothing videos end so abruptly, feeling like they've been cut off by an ad for your books.

[@KohalaLover]

A skylight wouldn’t cut it for a bedroom. I need natural light throughout my home. The cat is a stunner. Very sweet and pretty.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

The Buff brick gives is a 1950’s vibe.

[@jerichodesignbuild7148]

I really appreciate the use of the white oak in flat and rotary cuts, and not just rift sawn. As much as I appreciate the linear nature of the rift sawn that is so popular currently, it has a sterility to it that I have come to disfavor.

[@yeaimzeus]

Would love to see what this place looks like at night! I bet it’s very cozy

[@petersallay5221]

Gorgeous! What is the material on the wall in your studio? Is that felt or cork? I can’t tell.

[@rmlimntd2559]

as a architecture student, im fascinated by paradoxically combining 2 opposite element at the same time, from design to function. enclosed from the outside but open from the inside. the manipulation of light to bring calmness, the palette material used that it makes you think how you pulled column placement and specification that wont hinder the design.

[@mathewhills8807]

Lol You will be a great architect . You cant talk the prententious waffle and grandiose crap already

[@kwhatten]

Love the finishes. Is the grey shower a fluted concrete or a tile?

[@turboarbitrageur9089]

What's the music that's being used in this clip? Love it

[@krid5995]

Can you share with us. What is the gas cooktop brand? It had that illuminated knobs indicator feature which very cool and it’s custom fit which very rare to see on the market. It just make everything so sleek and different very minimal touch!!

[@kirinpeak5676]

wow

[@danieldurham2075]

does anyone know the gray tiles used on the walls of the primary bath?

[@serpserpserp]

I love the proper tour. Not just showing some rooms, but nearly all of them. The car being on half the shots was jarring. But an interesting house!

[@looppp]

What is that wood used? Oak? Absolutely stunning. Light yet warm.

[@ChrisVidouras]

Whoah

[@Monika-no3ud]

😍😍😍

[@Bobochee]

❤ Perfection

[@alicebosc1674]

Does anyone know who is the artist behind the piano piece towards the end of the video?

[@adriluda]

Beautiful, serene design, the kitchen is my dream. Whenever i see a space designed this way, my eyes go straight to the beautiful finishes, hardware, millwork, tones, curves, and those types of details that one might miss if it was more of a maximalist design 🤍

[@louisesuffolk]

❤

[@stoic1024]

It’s brilliant 👍

[@jonathanemeryarena]

Where’s the sofa from?

[@mrvk39]

I love how tranquil and soothing this home is. Soft light, white oak panels, neutral-grey and white colors. You can come home and relax and unwind. I would love my NYC apartment to have that feeling after my day in the city (but that is a pipe dream for now). I would've loved windows to frame an internal courtyard with some greenery but I guess the site doesn't allow for it. So, these low windows are needed to shield the living room from other homes/the street. But that double-height volume with a skylight is spectacular - i loved it! Overall, I really like this home.

[@gilroygabe]

are the picture frames supposed to sit on the floor?

[@bushetdah3465]

i truly love the ambience of the softness 💖 Actually as a junior architect, I need some insight regarding materials used in this house. I'm pretty sure that this house is pretty expensive, looking at how neat the materials are applied. But I wanna know about its sustainability there in Canada. I live in a tropical climate zone country, which making this house would be very high maintenance, yet I have no idea how would climate actually take parts in weathering of materials in other countries. And I wonder how was the design thinking behind this house, it's just I'm a lil bit concerned knowing that there's a fireplace in a room full of white oak wood panel. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much in love with this house tho. I even would love to help my client if they ask me to design a house like this one. But it's always almost impossible, and might be a bit not wise for me to go with such design decisions. I have ever proposed an interior covered with wooden panels and sadly they all got rejected, both from clients and from my principal architect 😂 they agreed for the look, but definitely a no to the sustainability and maintenance. At last, a warm greetings from Indonesia to you all 🇮🇩

[@user-id7rn9xw4o]

Tell me what kind of teapot is in the video, thanks.

[@mtmslg]

Sponsored by Audi?

[@poppyfn]

😂

[@BarAlexC]

must be. after 5y in the industry, I wonder how architects afford anything more than a cardboard box under a bridge...

[@0900McShizzle]

Came to the comments to search for this

[@BarAlexC]

@@skillbeh loved it so much that I've quit it all together

[@lizasoliman723]

no, sponsored by Tabby Cat

[@prettyfaerie7]

If i had an r8 I'd stare at it every morning too

[@edwardsboards]

what is the name of that wood?

[@Ren-1979]

I'm not a fan of low windows in the living room, but other than that good job. 👍

[@christinav.3661]

Background music is so loud, I can hardly hear the architect.

[@MsChitterchat]

Beautiful kitchen island. Why not plant in the space outside? Cannot bear the lack of greenery.

[@lida597]

🙏🙏🙏

[@vichomangiola]

Looks like a render.

[@haruhianderson4019]

Definitely seems like family was an afterthought in the design- the space looks like it’s just for him and his studio

[@haruhianderson4019]

It is actually a really horrible design for a home, especially for a “young family” as all the straight lines and angles without a curve in sight have been proven to foster anxiety as opposed to comfort in human beings. Not to mention the beige color palette has a negative impact on the psyche and makes one feel like their in an asylum combined with the lack of direct sunlight

[@user-je7iv6sb2n]

Thanks for the subtitles in Ukrainian

[@TheLocalProject]

🙂

[@D_YCON]

kitty!

[@escapismoo]

No green at all. What is the purpose of the ground floor other than coffee? Feels so pretty but soulless

[@chrisjong8412]

The sound on the video is horrible, i can't hear the voice true the loud music 😂

[@artel6225]

An architect of colour OMG😂🤣. A brilliant house with warm tones, & great use of light & space on a restricted plot.

[@89itis]

Funny how person of color is ok to use, but saying colored people is somehow racist. It’s just a dude who built himself a nice house and flexed with the Audi a bit…

[@farrazsetiawan]

im feeling all broke seeing this

[@ramonsanchez624]

Exelente diseño , uno de los mejores la verdad .Fastastica obra , Muy bien lograda y la distrbucion tiene un 10 en calidad . Exelente

[@renatoribeiro6921]

I see Alvar Aalto's influence, am i right?

[@jasminealixandranorth]

Why is he wearing outdoor shoes in this beautiful space? Strange.

[@bnjmnph]

Why use such nice timber flooring if you’re going to wear shoes inside?

[@angelaballard3929]

I can barely cope with the background 'music' on this. Local Project, please stick to the main purpose of showing the space with architectural commentary. Everything else, especially such musak is distraction.

[@tanshmay]

Didn’t appeal me!

[@howardroark4227]

Looks a bit like an audi ad