This property is part of a family compound located on the west side of Lake Simcoe, north of Toronto, Ontario.

The site combined two former lots which were occupied by two older frame family cottages. Lake Simcoe is a large lake and the shoreline is subject to ice heaving and wave erosion so local authorities required specific measures to rehabilitate and protect the shoreline with a landscaped rubble wall. An extensive planning process was undertaken to ensure the protection of the shoreline while providing new fish breeding habitat.

The new one-storey house spans the site to maximize views of the lake from principal rooms. Glimpses of the lake are visible from the exterior through windows located on both the entrance side and lake side, but it is only after one leaves the entrance vestibule and enters the great room that the full lake panorama is revealed. The great room houses the kitchen, dining room and living room with a large fireplace and a cathedral ceiling which rises to a clerestorey strip window that allows for full daylight. The owners have four children, thus four bedrooms, a primary bedroom and den are located on on the main floor.

The deck area overlooking the lake accommodates a lap and leisure pool with hot tub as well as an outdoor kitchen and a pavilion for shade. There is a stair to the lower level with access to the change rooms and sauna. This stair also acts as a light well to introduce daylight into the building’s lower level where there is a dedicated home theatre, bar area, fireplace and wine cellar.

Exterior materials are Swisspearl fibre-cement wall cladding, board formed concrete and a standing seam metal roof, as well as the stone fireplace. All material choices were made with a directive of keeping the building low to no maintenance without compromising the building’s longevity. Interior materials include oak hardwood floors, whitewashed ash wall paneling and white oak cabinets, as well as the Douglas fir heavy-timber roof.

Exterior cladding not only includes batt insulation between the studs but also an additional layer of exterior insulation behind the fiber cement rainscreen which removes any thermal bridging and provides an R-value of 30 to the assembly.

LOCATION

Innisfil, Ontario

COMPLETED

2024

SIZE

9,200 ft²

SERVICES

New Construction

CATEGORY

Residential

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ben Rahn/A-Frame