A Cottage is a small country house, usually located in rural areas or next to nature. Cottages usually have a cosy and rustic style, with materials such as wood and stone predominating in their construction. These houses are often used as refuges for holidays or weekend getaways, to disconnect from urban life and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of natural surroundings. Cottages are popular in many parts of the world, especially in regions with a strong tradition of country living.
Let's examine a construction of this type. BLDG Workshop has designed a picturesque wooden cottage on an island in a lake in the Algonquin Highlands (Ontario, Canada). The cottage offers views of the rocky outcrops and the shores of the Canadian Gran Cordillera. During construction, special attention was paid to the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, as well as the surrounding natural landscape. The natural elements of the place have been emphasised and amplified, such as the patterns of sunlight on the peninsula which are related to morning and evening light.
"Located on a peninsula by an impressive lake in Ontario, the development of the design of this cabin pivoted on the desire for a spectacular interior/exterior space” say the creators of the house on their web page.
The study incorporated a large indoor-outdoor space at the front of the house, which offers views of the lake and the impressive landscape. This space helps to capture natural light throughout the day, creating a space flooded with light at all times. "The design process was a function of prioritising how the space related to the patterns of the sun and whether the client preferred the relationship with the morning light or the evening light. It soon became obvious that the porch had to be located in the upper part of the house".
The house features an open floor plan design and a large fitted vent in the interior so the open air space is habitable most of the year. “In concert with a huge interior sliding window, the house is connected to the open air throughout the day every day.” So the cottage is an open, fluid living space connected to nature.
The cottage consists of a series of zigzag cantilevers, glazed fronts and pitched wooden rooves. It has two storeys and multiple living and communal areas. The outdoor space has wooden terraces that also serve as seating areas. As the creators say, this wooden cottage is perfect for a cosy getaway in an idyllic, intimate and, of course, well-designed place.
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