Metrick Cottage and Boathouse by Akb Architects
Settled in a rocky enclave of waterfront homes, Metrick Cottage is a one-storey, wood-clad, residence and boathouse on the shore of Lake Joseph, Ontario. This year-round retreat for a multi-generational family, draws inspiration from the rugged beauty that surrounds it to create a warm, elegant and eco-friendly home.
From the lake, the cottage is designed to elegantly blend into the rugged terrain, while the boathouse, a complimentary, three-slip storage, maintains a quiet presence on the water. Together, the home offers a serene oasis for the Metrick family, with panoramic views of the lake and shoreline beyond.
About Metrick Cottage and Boathouse
Metrick Cottage: A Serene Eco-Friendly Retreat on Lake Joseph
Metrick Cottage is a one-story, wood-clad residence and boathouse situated on the shores of Lake Joseph, Ontario. This year-round retreat, settled in a rocky enclave of waterfront homes, draws inspiration from the rugged beauty of its surroundings to create a warm, elegant, and eco-friendly home for a multi-generational family.
Distinct Design of the Main Cottage
The design of the main cottage is composed of three distinct yet connected “pods.” Each pod comprises an open, communal space that is flanked by a master bedroom suite on one side and a two-bedroom suite on the other. The residence was carefully positioned in the landscape so that the bedrooms face a stone ridge on either side, creating a visual boundary that extends the perception of space while providing privacy. Furthermore, each pod is slightly angled from each other to capture the longest view of the Lake from the central pod, where the family congregates.
Elegant and Eco-Friendly Design Features
Each pod has a gabled roof with deep overhangs and exposed wood joists that run across the space. The building is clad in a rustic, semi-charred fir, contrasted by large expanses of glass openings and a refined, standing-seam metal roof. The interior floors, walls, and ceilings are wrapped in torrified ash, baked to achieve a deep brown color. The use of this single material unifies the interior volumes and gives the appearance of being carved from the inside-out. In the communal pod, a stately stone fireplace delineates the interior living space from the exterior screened porch. The passages between pods are distinguished with basalt stone floors.
Seamless Integration with Surrounding Terrain
From the lake, the cottage elegantly blends into the rugged terrain, while the boathouse, a complimentary, three-slip storage, maintains a quiet presence on the water. Together, the home offers a serene oasis for the Metrick family, with panoramic views of the lake and shoreline beyond. The design of Metrick Cottage successfully marries form and function, creating a welcoming space that offers both privacy and social gathering opportunities.
Photography courtesy of Akb Architects
- by Matt Watts
