Renovating A Canadian Icon

In the spring our thoughts turn to quitting work & living in a continuous vacation party land or rather, cottage country. In 2006 we had the pleasure of renovating the most feared and iconic of the Muskoka cottages – The A-frame.



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How do you solve a problem like an A-frame? Most people tear them down but our client embraced all things A-frame.  His goal was to triple the area of the existing cottage, without destroying the iconic shape of the original building.

Now, an A-frame is a very simple and strong shape.  To try and mimic the shape is fraught with peril.  To try and gentrify it is just really poor design.  The solution had to be to let the old shape stay strong and add another simple shape to it.

The cottage, on an island in Muskoka, was oriented to take advantage of the view (surprise, surprise) and had a strong axis in the direction of the lake.  The design solution was to create a new axis - “the axis of entertaining”-crossing the existing, sharing the same spectacular view.

This new “axis of entertaining”, a simple rectangular space, Includes the kitchen, dining, and living area.  The kitchen stays in its original location but is enlarged and opens up to the living spaces.  At its heart is a large island with stone countertop.  The dining area bridges the old and new and it can be configured to accommodate any number of weekend visitors.  A large sun room, bordered by a continuous bench and surrounded by glass, completes the common space.  A two sided fireplace between the dining and sunroom areas acts as divider yet ties the rooms together.

We used site-built trusses - an important consideration when building on an island. The walls are exposed wood studs.  Everything is painted white to tie it all together.

Photo Source: Construction Manager, Gadsby's of Gravenhurst

Finally, the exterior finishes were replaced to unify the new addition with the existing structure.  With an A-frame there really is only one exterior finish -- the roof.  Careful colour choice of the new insulated metal roof on the A-frame and natural cedar shingle on the addition keep the cottage nestled in the trees. 

Photo Source: Construction Manager, Gadsby's of Gravenhurst

It was featured in “House & Home” magazine, September ’06. To see this artical please click HERE

SO – I’ve been busy – do you mind?

THE CLEVER PLAN FOR THE TOWNHOUSE AND BIKE SHOP

The only connection from the townhouse to the rear yard is via a tiny door at the rear of the bike shop.  I think the townhouse needs an internal stair from the main floor to the rear yard. Lets carve out a piece of the concrete floor.....don’t forget to ask a French engineer if that‘s OK!

The new spot for the stair to the second floor- let’s hope you’re allowed to use 5 or 6 winders in a row.

Let’s take out the non-load bearing wall and put the kitchen and dining room in the new large room.  All we need now is a door between the new kitchen and the old living room.  Hey, don’t forget to put in a steel lintel when you chip out the 17” thick stone wall!

The French House

 
The front of the house (the small house on the far left) faces a beautiful chateau in a park setting (good) and a busy road (bad).

The Elevation Empire

In December 2009 we bought a 90 year old, 3 storey commercial building on Queen Street East. It was a noble pile, but in need of care and attention - basic maintenance was an idea last visited in the 1970’s.  We moved from our Kingston Rd storefront to a   cozy, non-hierarchical office space (ie: small) on the second floor. However, without a retail presence on the ground floor we worried about visibility. We didn’t need a storefront, but we needed a sign.  It had to say “Elevation Architects lives here”.