Percy Lake Cottage

On a densely wooded site at the top of a steep slope, overlooking a tranquil lake and a private beach scattered with old tree stumps, Michael Taylor Architecture + Design was commissioned to create a peaceful rural retreat, having previously designed a condominium interior for the same couple in the bustling heart of downtown Toronto. Located on the edge of Percy Lake near Algonquin Park, Ontario, the geology of the site is composed of Canadian Shield granite, and portions of this rock are visible throughout the site and incorporated into the landscaping. The inspiration for the project came from the clients’ request for a single storey cottage that would be as hidden as possible from the nearby road. This was achieved by excavating six feet down from the existing grade while retaining and exposing the rock face between the cottage and the road to form a landscaped embankment. Rather than creating a grand entrance, the front door is discretely recessed and tucked away behind this embankment. All that is visible from the road is the iconic stone chimney and the charcoal-coloured edge of the roof overhang that appears to float over the embankment. The cottage is broken up into three distinct volumes, each stepped back from the next to maximize views and natural light – an entry wing with two guest bedrooms and a generous screened-in porch; the central great room containing living, dining and kitchen, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing spectacular vistas out to the lake; and the master bedroom wing that is separated from the rest of the cottage by an interior glazed walkway. Operable windows on both sides of the great room provide cooling cross ventilation during the summer and a radiant heated floor and wood burning fireplace provide winter heating. The exterior of the cottage is clad in dark wood siding, blending it into the densely treed site. The interior ceiling of Douglas fir planks extends outside under generous roof overhangs and wraps down the walls of the screened porch. At night, the warm tones of the wood create a soft welcoming glow that further blurs the boundaries between inside and out. Low maintenance flooring of large-scale porcelain tiles evokes the look of poured-in-place concrete. The architects were fortunate to work with skilled artisans who crafted custom metal and woodwork for the project - the wood burning fireplace framed in blackened steel is the focal point of the great room. A custom solid walnut dining table and chandelier of recycled wood were created by Toronto craftsmen The Brothers Dressler, and the builder contributed a blackened steel cut-out map of the lake that greets visitors at the entry. Landscaping is minimal, preserving the character of the site and retaining as many trees as possible. Subtle interventions have been introduced by Mark Hartley Landscape Architects, such as stone steps leading from the cottage down to the lake and granite boulders relocated from other parts of the site to form terraces.