Isotope

This 5 bedroom, one-storey recreational home hugs the landscape and rock overlooking Lake Muskoka.

The T-shaped plan houses the great room and kitchen at the south end, with attached garage, and the bedroom wing at the north end. Most bedrooms have a view of the lake, and the main concept is to have a completely daylit interior which maximizes views and brings the outdoors in.

The house was originally built on spec in a neo-traditional style.

The new owners requested that the building be converted into a more contemporary and clean look, to eliminate decorative elements such as round top windows and dormers.

Exterior stairs were relocated to flanking elevations and windows enlarged to improve quality of daylight, views and ventilation.

The boathouse was renovated in a similar manner.

This island cottage replaces two cottages that burned down in 2012. Local zoning restricted the footprint to be no wider than the original buildings.

The design concept was to express the building as three separate buildings to break down the mass and length of the new cottage. The building features two bedroom wings at each end separated by a living room, dining room, kitchen, entrance hall and den. The cottage is naturally daylit through the use of glass walls that focus both on the lake and the island forest at rear.

The L-shaped plan accommodates two full bedroom wings organized around a central great room.

The great room has glass on three sides, but the entire plan capitalizes on the exterior by having floor to ceiling glass on each elevation.  Even the corridors have large picture windows which provide views into the site.

The design incorporates a renovated existing sleeping cabin which has been attached to the building adding more sleeping and washroom space for a total of eight bedrooms.  The living room features a games alcove suitable for puzzles and board games while overlooking the view.  An outdoor sitting area surrounds an exterior wood burning fireplace which attached to the house.

A new three slip boathouse with a 650 ft² living space above was also part of the project.

The design concept was to use the L-shaped design to capitalize on topography and views to the south and west.

This five-bedroom cottage is sited to respect the existing landscape and rock outcrop.

The building wraps around the contours and the rock face forms one wall of the entrance walkway. All principal rooms and bedrooms have a lake view, with service rooms on the land side, with a walkway which serves the bedrooms but affords views into the landscape and maximizes daylight. A clerestory window spans the entire building and promotes cross ventilation and natural daylight.