The objective of this project was to capture the essence of a classic Muskoka cottage. The clients are third generation owners and wanted to replace their tired century old cottage with a new building better suited to their family’s needs. The design includes many traditional features common to the Muskoka region, such as exposed rafter tails, bell curved eaves, and natural wood detailing. Most important to the design was a sense that the cottage belonged on the site, not only in the colours and meterials, but the overall scale and massing of the roof. From the lake, the cottage doesn’t overpower the landscape, rather sits between dense forest and mature trees.