Modest, functional design for Muskoka boathouse flips the narrative

by marika_gabriel | January 5, 2024 4:52 pm

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The Lake Muskoka Boathouse, designed by an architect who spent childhood summers on the lake, draws inspiration from the local environment and a century-long tradition of Muskoka boathouses. Unlike grand showpieces, it is a utilitarian structure that honours simplicity and functionality.

The project, designed by the U.S. based architect, Turkel Design, received the 39^th Wood Design & Building Awards, presented by the Canadian Wood Council. Constructed offsite to expedite the building process and avoid disrupting the short Muskoka summer, the boathouse’s prefabricated structural system features laminated Douglas Fir post-and-beam construction. The cladding, composed of spaced fir boards, not only promotes drying with the beveled edges. but also ages gracefully to a natural silver patina, enhancing the overall esthetic.

The cladding’s open lattice ensures proper air circulation for drying, subtly revealing the supporting posts and galvanized cross-bracing, creating a warm glow within the building for a welcoming return at dusk.

To address the common issue of unused roof spaces in Muskoka boathouses, the designer introduced roof monitors, offering privacy, storage, and lightwells. This innovative design adds variety to the building while adhering to the 4.27-m (14-ft) height limitation, combining the roof plane and deck support.

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Controlling the building’s height, the roof deck joists sit on horizontal beams, with the sloped roof suspended below. Tapered beams match the roof slope, allowing a thin fascia to protect the roof membrane without direct contact, safeguarding it from UV damage and falling debris.

Incorporating galvanized barn door hardware, the boathouse features large sliding door panels, allowing the boat to seamlessly become part of the dock activity and expanding the shaded gathering space. The choice of local materials and precision fabrication brings back the simplicity of Muskoka boathouses while adapting to contemporary needs as a social and entertainment space.

Turkel Design’s configuration of a custom panelized prefab package made it easier to transport materials to the steep, rugged shoreline. “We brought the components across the frozen lake at the end of winter instead of waiting for the ice to thaw to bring the materials by barge,” says Turkel Design cofounder, Meelena Oleksiuk Turkel. “Prefab and its efficiencies enabled the boathouse to be ready for an extra season of use.”

Source URL: https://www.constructioncanada.net/modest-design-for-muskoka-boathouse-flips-narrative/

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