The Toronto-based Akb Architects studio have created a multi-generational family cottage clad in Western Red Cedar boards and shingles, blending seamlessly into the landscape of Northern Ontario, characterized by wind-swept trees and prehistoric rock. Muskoka Cottage fulfills the client's request for a year-round retreat to comfortably accommodate their family of five and entertain occasional guests, nestling above and within the site's topography with minimal environmental disturbance
Muskoka Cottage. A multi-generational family dwelling with an organic nature intertwined with the landscape
The Muskoka Cottage is a residence of approximately 700 square meters, consisting of three interconnected volumes that create welcoming spaces with a spectacular view of a freshwater lake. Its simple forms are distinctly contemporary but equipped with vernacular details, such as the gabled roof with pronounced chimneys and the abundance of naturally aged wood, which give it the charm of a “house in the woods”
Muskoka Cottage features several bedrooms with private bathrooms, well separated from the communal spaces. These communal areas, located at the heart of the house, are the gravitational center of the home: a spacious open-concept living room and a dining area framed by a vaulted ceiling enclosed between hand-brushed European oak boards. The cladding extends, beyond a sliding glass wall, to an outdoor porch equipped with a dining area, lounge, and bar. The finishes focus on the elemental, with custom concrete vanities and kitchen furniture designed to blend into the walls and align with the island's granite countertop. Soft furnishings and rugs in neutral tones add warmth to the delicate interplay of architecture, balancing the warmth of rusticity with finely-tuned minimalism
Thanks to the glass partitions running along the lake shore, the communal spaces dissolve into the surrounding natural environment. Retractable mosquito screens, a necessity in Muskoka, allow the folding walls to remain open day and night, enabling passive air circulation. Positioning the main volume on the natural elevation enabled the creation of a lower level with an external view. This area houses a cedar sauna, a fitness room, and a recreational room, just steps away from trails leading to the boathouse and the shore
What sets this cottage apart from others is the elasticity of the boundary between inside and outside, the flexibility of the perimeter walls, the interstitial spaces they create, and the materiality of the building. The craftsmanship, sensory-impactful materials like woodworking, unpainted Venetian stucco, and hot-rolled steel make the dwelling a creation destined to gain a patina over time, reflecting the organic nature of a house designed to age gracefully
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