Toronto-based architecture and interior design studio Atelier Kastelic Buffey (Akb) has designed a modern cottage secluded amidst the natural beauty of Ontario’s Georgian Bay.
The retreat is located three hours north of Toronto on a small island called Whistling Wind in a community named Pointe Au Baril. The region is defined by the expansive sky, open waters, and the many rock archipelagoes that are scattered along the coast of the Bay, forming many narrow waterways.
The cottage comprises four pitch-roofed structures, which are each scaled proportionately to fit the island’s one-acre size. They are clad in silver-weathered cedar shingles, and, in certain light conditions, they are barely discernible from the brownish-gray rocks that surround them.
The main cottage is at the highest elevation, and it is joined by a smaller cabin, a sauna, and a boat storage, which also contains a small fitness room. They are situated on different outcroppings and are reachable via wooden plank gangways.
Image: Doublespace
The main cottage and cabin are surrounded on most sides by wrap-around decks for taking in panoramic views in every direction. Their positioning and asymmetric shapes respond to the natural topography of the site.
Image: Doublespace
The line between front and back entry points is blurred. Triple-pane operable glass walls dissolve a traditional orientation by providing multiple ways to move between indoors and out. Retracting walls within these structures allow cross breezes to cool the interiors. In addition, deeply recessed windows, with overhangs that are carved into the mass of the buildings, provide shade.
Image: Doublespace
Image: Doublespace
The 1,800-square-foot main cottage includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, a laundry room, a kitchen, a dining area, and a living room with a full-height fireplace. There are custom-made cedar whitewashed boards on the walls that run horizontally to echo the surrounding water and sky horizon line. Matching wood planks also line the cathedral ceiling. The same material application is used in the cabin, which hosts two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a fireplace, as well.
In addition to the triple-pane operable glass walls, which provide natural thermal control, and the deeply recessed windows, the retreat employs a variety of sustainable design techniques. Wood-burning fireplaces in both residences eliminate the need for mechanical backup systems.
Water usage is also minimized through low-flow plumbing fixtures and a tankless, on-demand hot water system for the dishwasher and laundry that reduces the amount of water needed. Additionally, the lighting fixtures were choses to mimic the soft essence of candlelight, and exterior lighting was eliminated entirely.
1 Comment
Really curious about the infrastructure. Did they run power/sewer/water lines to the island? Or is it all off-grid with tanks that need to be pumped?
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