Long gone are the days that off the grid living means roughing it. Now, an isolated waterside location does not mean a home can’t be filled with all the amenities of a modern lifestyle, including a gourmet kitchen.
Monument Channel Cottage by CORE Architects is located on the Monument Channel, in Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada. It is built mainly of Douglas fir but also incorporates stone and concrete in the structural post and beam design – it is an absolutely stunning structure.
The cladding used on the exterior is either cedar shingles or structural wood while Ipe is the main material used on the decking, guardrails and handrails.
All the materials had to be barged in to the remote location and since there is no hook up to a grid in the area electricity is produced via solar panels. The waste water is not connected to a sewer system but rather a bio-filter septic system.
The design of the home takes advantage of the views, allowing glimpses of the bay to travel through the home and be visible from outside the main entrance.
The home is perched on large, natural boulders and concrete stairs create a seamless transition from the decks to the rock face.
One of the decks is positioned on the far side of the home and is exposed to the stunning views on 3 sides which can be enjoyed even on winter evenings thanks to the outdoor wood burning fireplace that has been incorporated into the design.
All of the wood used on the outside of the home has been finished in a clear oil based sealer to protect it from the environment.
The timbers have been used in both a solid sawn rough cut and milled to specific profiles. All the woodworking was prefabricated, and pre-drilled for assembling on site with standard connectors.
The side deck leads to living room adjacent to the dining room, which is next to the large yet surprisingly intimate gourmet kitchen.
The structural Douglas-fir frame has been left exposed to both feature the incredible graining of the wood and to celebrate the post and beam details of the home.
The home’s geometric design relies on repeating elements and the posts and beams add to that aesthetic as do the row of skylights, light pendants and the long row of open upper cabinetry.
Inside the Douglas-fir has been left untreated so that it can naturally patina over time.
A row of clerestory windows above the cabinetry keeps the kitchen area connected to the outdoors on all four sides.
The balance between the warm woods and the cooler shades of the concrete, stonework and lower cabinetry creates a balance that adds to the geometric rhythms of the home.
CORE Architects.
Photos via CORE Architects.
For more ideas about remote living check out our off the grid house design selection.
