Toronto-based Dubbeldam Architecture + Design created a “Bunkie on the Hill” as a quiet haven surrounded by nature in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. This contemporary reading of the traditional A-frame conjures images of the quintessential cabin in the woods.
The Bunkie on the Hill is the smallest in a collection of cabins scattered across four family properties in Muskoka, a popular Canadian holiday destination, and is designed as a place to re-connect with nature. “The Bunkie is tucked into the trees at the top of a steep slope and provides a quiet space away from the action of the multi-generational family cottages below,” says Dubbeldam Architecture + Design. (A Bunkie is typically a small outbuilding that provides additional sleeping accommodation for guests.)
The 1,000-square-feet (93-square-meter) cabin’s design is differentiated by its shifted roof volumes. “The split roof design features two intersecting gables that create opportunities for window openings where the roof volumes separate,” explains Dubbeldam Architecture + Design. The windows curate views of the cabin’s forest setting, from the tree canopies to the lake and sky; moreover, their geometric shapes inspire a pleasing interplay between light and shadow that changes throughout the day.
The split roof design also creates two different elevations at either end of the cabin: a tall and narrower glazed facade looks out on the lake and a wider, more opaque facade faces the forest — this facade includes an opening onto a covered entrance. Located on the cabin’s western side, the entrance features a walkway with a slatted red cedar screen that spans its length, thereby concealing the doorway.
The Bunkie's vaulted roof maximizes the feeling of space and its interior is thoughtfully arranged. On the first level, a bright living area and kitchen open onto a terrace with a panoramic view of the lake; in the rear bedroom, a large picture window frames an immersive forest scene. A loft space includes a built-in desk that overlooks the living area and lake — there is also an additional sleeping area. The interior features a number of nooks with storage shelves and built-in benches.
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design made a careful selection of natural materials that harmonize with the Bunkie’s mountain location. On the exterior, grey wood cladding complements the Western red cedar soffits and screen that frames the entrance; a raw, board-formed concrete base creates a textured contrast. On the interior, a mix of wood species includes oak flooring, maple plywood walls, and Western red cedar ceilings. Describing the variety of wood species used in the project, Heather Dubbeldam, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design founder and principal, notes: “White wallboard defines the interior perimeter walls, internal partitions are clad in maple plywood, and the ceiling is delineated by Western red cedar slats, bringing even more of the surrounding forest inside.”
Sustainability features
The Bunkie’s external walls have been made thicker and provide passive insulation (with an R-value of more than 40); windows are triple-glazed and have a low-e coating; flitch beams are used to eliminate thermal bridges, and the building’s envelope is airtight.
To avoid the blasting of rock in order to create foundations, “the Bunkie was raised above grade and its foundation constructed on top of the natural rock contours, allowing the structure to sit lightly on the landscape,” explains Dubbeldam Architecture + Design.
Wood products are FSC-certified and both high-energy light fittings and low-flow plumbing appliances are used.
