Toronto-based Dubbeldam Architecture + Design has offered an insight into their completed cabin in rural Ontario, Canada. Named Bunkie on the Hill and described as a “quiet haven in the trees for family members to retreat and re-connect with nature,” the cabin sits at the top of a steep slope overlooking a collection of family cottages below.

The 1,000-square-foot cabin by the Dubbeldam team, who was recently honored at the 2024 RAIC Annual Awards as the Architectural Practice winner, sees a contemporary interpretation of the traditional A-frame shape. Inspired by overlapping layers of shale rock in the surrounding landscape, the split roof features two intersecting gables that allow for window openings where the roof volumes split.

“These geometric windows allow for curated views of the treetops on one side and lake below on the other and invite natural light to flood the interior of the cabin, reflecting off the sharp roof angles and creating dramatic lines and shadows,” the team notes. “The cabin’s split roof design also generates distinct elevations on either side — a tall, narrow, glazed facade facing the lake, and a wider, more opaque elevation facing the forest, with a cut out for a covered entrance on the west side.”

The material palette for the cabin was chosen to complement the rustic landscape surrounding the site. Greyed wood siding contrasts with natural cedar soffits and screens, sitting atop a raw, board-formed concrete base. Meanwhile, timber interior materials include oak flooring, and maple, plywood, and cedar cladding, grounded by dark charcoal window frames, grey stone counters, and colorful furniture.

The interior of the cabin is described as “functional despite its compact size,” with small nooks throughout containing storage shelves and built-in benches. The upper loft area includes a built-in desk with a view down to the living space on the first level and the lake beyond, while the bedroom is located at the rear with a large window to offer immersive views of the forest.

The cabin is one of several Canadian projects to recently feature in our editorial. Last month, we reported on a cube chalet in a rural Quebec forest, while in February, we profiled a plaza in Ontario where interactive pavements play music “as if by magic.” Earlier in February, we covered a coastal Nova Scotia home by Omar Gandhi Architects that “emerges from rocky terrain” as well as a series of rural camping shelters by Atelier L’Abri.