In Rural Ontario, This Home Occupies a Pristine Forested Peninsula
Long Lake Cottage by Dubbledam Architecure + Design uses natural materials and a light touch to blend into its surroundings.
Set among the trees on a secluded peninsula in the Ontario wilderness, Long Lake Cottage was designed by Toronto-based Dubbeldam Architecture + Design with two-fold goals: creating a refuge that was intertwined with nature and was accessible for a multigenerational family. The surrounding landscape was a strong consideration, so much that the clients, an urban couple, spent their weekends camping on the property before deciding what to build.
The resulting cottage seems as if it’s receding into the landscape, with expansive, wraparound windows maximizing the views. The clients sought a living room that feels as if it “floats above the forest floor,” so Dubbeldam positioned it on the upper level to help achieve this. The open-plan living area features sweeping lake and forest views as well as features designed for gathering, such as a central hearth and built-in 17-foot window bench that provides additional seating.
“We designed the cottage with the living spaces upstairs and bedrooms below to preserve the natural contours of the site and ensure accessibility for the entire family,” says principal Heather Dubbeldam. “This slightly unorthodox arrangement emphasizes the retreat’s connection to nature, with communal spaces in the tree canopy and private areas within the forest floor.” To further promote enjoyment for the entire family, one of whom uses a wheelchair, the upper floor is also accessible via a bridge and has an accessible bedroom and bathroom.
On the lower floor, five bedrooms provide ample sleeping spaces. In each, a private exterior entrance and floor-to-ceiling windows offer a direct connection with the forested landscape outdoors. The primary bedroom includes an ensuite bathroom with an outdoor shower, another nod to the family’s love of the outdoors. Upstairs, a spacious deck further enhances the indoor-outdoor connection, while a deck on the lower floor provides welcome shade in the warm summer months.
Dubbeldam’s ethos of sustainability is exemplified in Long Lake Cottage. The home was built using sustainably harvested wood, such as greyed cedar and charcoal-stained spruce on the cabin’s exterior, as well as warm hemlock and oak in the floors and walls in the interior. The cottage itself is powered by a solar array. Sustainable design helps Long Lake Cottage remain a space to connect with family and with nature throughout every season.
