Birdhouses in the trees, left on site by the previous owners of the area, provided the design inspiration for this compact two-storey family cottage situated on a lake in Ontario's Kawartha Highlands: just as these small nesting cavities - simple in form and purpose - fulfil the essential task of shelter, so the house presents itself as a straightforward, minimalist refuge that protects from the natural elements while offering its inhabitants direct contact with nature. On the outside, the cladding of locally sourced charred cedar planks, on an exposed rough concrete plinth, refers to the dark tones of the surrounding forest; in the interior, the light that generously penetrates through the large windows and the white oak cladding expand the space, creating a lively contrast with the façades. The house's compact form and high-performance envelope minimise dispersion in a sometimes extreme climatic context.
