A Lakeside Canadian Cabin Channels Golden Summer Camp Vibes
This family getaway—which is only accessible by boat—has a bunk room below and a mess hall above that takes advantage of spectacular views.
This family getaway—which is only accessible by boat—has a bunk room below and a mess hall above that takes advantage of spectacular views.
Back in 1987, architect Tom Knezic’s parents bought a plot of land overlooking Kahshe Lake, in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. They built a small "bunkie" on the land and planned to build a lake cabin for family holidays. Then, the 1989 recession hit and their plans were put on hold. More than three decades later, Knezic and his wife Christine Lolley—co-founders of Solares Architecture—have finally designed and built the cabin of their dreams.
"It’s only an hour and a half from the north edge of Toronto," says Knezic. "But, because it’s water access only, it feels like you’re far away from everything—and you have a real sense of isolation."
Nanne Springer
Over the years, the family had developed the land into an outdoor haven, with various amenities—including a fire pit, slacklines, bike trails, and a hammock zone—built around the bunkie. "Back then, all four of us slept in the tiny bunkie, and I have a lot of memories growing up on this land," says Knezic. "I watched my father build the stairs going up the cliff, and even helped build parts myself."
The site is full of forest and Canadian Shield rock—including a large rock outcrop along the lake that rises up to the height of the second floor.
Nanne Springer
The intention had always been to build the cabin in a clearing by the lakeshore. However, when the family began to start thinking about building again around 10 years ago, regulations had changed and it was impossible to build so close to the water. "We also realized that if we built there we would destroy the open piece of land that we had been using for gatherings and play for so long."
They considered building at the back of the property, and also discussed replacing the bunkie. "That really upset my mom, though," says Knezic. "By then, my father had passed away and the bunkie represented a very happy period for them. We then looked at ways to expand the bunkie, but none of them worked." After a year of discussion, Knezic’s mother suggested approaching the owner of the neighboring plot of land, which was disused, with an offer to buy.
"One of the most interesting parts of the project was the foundation, as we used ground screws," says architect Tom Knezic. "I’ve never done a foundation like this, but it’s really neat because you just screw into the ground, weld the beam on top, and you’ve got a foundation in two days. It’s a very light footprint, as we didn't have to do any blasting or chipping. We had to remove some trees to fit the cottage in, but we tried to keep as many as possible around the building—by using ground screws, you’re not damaging the roots of adjacent trees."
Nanne Springer
See the full story on Dwell.com: A Lakeside Canadian Cabin Channels Golden Summer Camp Vibes
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