Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Superkül Inc Architect
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
On the edge of a
Precambrian granite island, this 2000 SF
cottage is nestled into the rock and against a line of trees, taking full advantage of the site’s natural beauty and its protection from the often
extreme weather.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
In form and material the cottage is determined by its landscape of water, rock and sky. Its graphic lines contrast and highlight those of the wind-shaped trees and the washed granite; the massing of the cottage mimics that of the rock formations in which it sits.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
A glass walkway links the cottage’s two volumes. The living spaces are in the volume closest to the shore; bedrooms are against the trees. Window openings are aligned throughout to allow views to the trees behind and the water in front. A cedar deck folds down to meet the rock; it hosts outdoor living spaces including a contained children’s play area and a private outdoor shower.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
In keeping with the family’s inter-generational stewardship of the island, the cottage was designed to tread lightly on the land; the design was based on locally available construction materials and equipment that were easily barged in, managed and moved by one pair of hands. Sited in a natural clearing, no trees were removed to make the site. Pier foundations both obviated any blasting, and allow for passive under-croft cooling. The cottage is passively lit, ventilated and cooled, and the use of local and natural materials left largely in their unfinished states leaves a smaller footprint.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Tom Arban |
The People
Architects: Superkül Inc Architect
Location: Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Photographs: Tom Arban
