AN INSULINATED, WORLD-CLOSED RETREAT IN CANADA
The Akb architectural firm has designed cottages like no other on Whistling Wind Island, one of the most remote of Pointe-au-Baril's islands, located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay in Ontario.
Whistling Wind Island demonstrates how architecture can be integrated into the most radical landscapes. This seasonal complex, designed by the Akb agency, is located in Pointe-au-Baril, three hours north of Toronto, in the heart of a region faced with unpredictable weather conditions and fluctuating water levels. "This location is known for its many Precambrian rock archipelagos scattered along the Georgian Bay coast, forming narrow waterways that even experienced boaters find difficult to navigate," explain the architects. Morning sunshine can turn into afternoon hailstorms. For the owner of these cottages, the region is an ideal place to enjoy his passion for kitesurfing.
IN TUNE WITH NATURE
This cottages complex comprises four structures, all sized to fit the island's one-acre size of 4,046 square meters. The 167-square-meter main cottage is located at the highest point. It has two bedrooms, an en suite bathroom, a kitchen, a dining room and a living room with a fireplace wall made of slabs of local Muskoka granite. The building also houses a sauna and a small fitness room in boat storage, linked by wooden walkways.
The 90-square-meter bunkie is a smaller version of the chalet, designed for four people, offering two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. At its center, a large ashlar fireplace separates the rooms from a kitchenette, with a desk and sitting area.
All these structures are clad in silver cedar shingles that blend into the surrounding rocks, sometimes making them indistinguishable depending on the light.
NATURAL MATERIALITY
L’envie du propriétaire et le travail du cabinet Akb sur cette île reculée parviennent ainsi à relever les défis de la construction durable. Les deux résidences principales sont construites sur les empreintes originales des structures préexistantes. Pour le chalet, les murs en verre à triple vitrage, les fenêtres encastrées de la façade et les surplombs creusés dans la masse du bâtiment assurent un contrôle thermique naturel, réduisant le gain de chaleur solaire.
De la même manière, les cheminées à bois éliminent le besoin de systèmes de secours mécaniques, économisant la consommation d’énergie. La conservation de l’eau joue tout autant un rôle important, avec des appareils de plomberie à faible débit et une douche extérieure qui profite de l’eau du lac. « La baie Georgienne sert elle-même de “baignoire” », souligne l’agence.
Quant à l’éclairage, la conception des luminaires imite l’apparence des bougies pour mieux préserver la beauté naturelle du ciel nocturne.
SEASONAL PROTECTION
The solidity of the dwellings withstands extreme weather conditions, while the size and warmth of the interiors provide a cozy refuge. The large windows provide a serene view of the summer storms that characterize Pointe-au-Baril.
As the Akb firm points out, the vacation season here is short-lived, ending in November when ice forms on the lake. At this time, the buildings are protected: aluminum flush-mounted doors are lowered to cover the windows, and floating docks are removed from the water.
This island retreat thus combines effective, thoughtful design with natural, sustainable materials, embracing the radical nature and elemental forces of this ruggedly beautiful region.
AKB.CA
