Shield and Shelter: A Family Retreat on the Lakeshore Embracing the Canadian Landscape

In the heart of one of Ontario’s most breathtaking regions, nestled within endless forests and on the rugged slopes of the Canadian Shield, Toronto-based studio Barbora Vokac Taylor Architect Inc. (BVTA) has crafted a family retreat that perfectly balances intimacy with the grandeur of the surrounding landscape.

This three-level, four-bedroom home, complete with an additional loft space, was designed to be more than just a seasonal cottage—it is a lasting “campus” for the family, a gathering place for generations, and a home that tells the timeless story of humanity’s relationship with nature.

Positioned among maple trees, the villa does not resist the terrain but embraces it, resting on natural slopes and orienting its lines toward the lake. The exterior is clean, refined, and minimalist, while the interior reveals the expressiveness of cedar walls that curve, open, and allow light to flood the living spaces.

Instead of invasive land leveling, BVTA chose to embrace the topography, shaping the structure to follow nature’s rhythm. The result is architecture that stands firmly yet breathes with the landscape, creating a harmonious dialogue between stability and fluidity.

The dominant element is a large black zinc roof wing with deep overhangs, beneath which two cedar-clad volumes unfold—one housing the main living space, the other a garage and gym. Between them, a negative space is transformed into a Muskoka Room—a reinterpretation of the region’s traditional gathering room, open to the lake yet closeable with motorized panels during summer months.

This passage, simultaneously connecting and dividing, was carefully designed to frame a view of the lake upon arrival by car—a visual prologue to the intimate experience within the home.

The entry level is dedicated to rest, with children’s bedrooms, a guest suite, a study, and a laundry room. A staircase descends into the main living level, where an impressive yet warm space opens with a kitchen, dining room, and living area. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls reveal panoramic lake views, while a large stone fireplace and double-sided stove anchor the sense of domestic warmth.

The master suite is located on this level, designed as a private oasis so the owners can enjoy the home even alone, without losing the feeling of luxury.

From the basement—designed as a recreational zone with a cinema, bar, and sauna—residents step into a Japanese onsen-inspired spa, tucked beneath the roof’s overhang, lined in cedar, and protected by concrete walls that frame views of the forest and lake.

Every detail carries emotional weight: from the staircase with deliberately slower proportions that “slows down” one’s step, to a hidden children’s loft—a treehouse within the house itself. Skylights and clerestory windows bring playful sunlight inside, while strategically placed “viewfinders” frame landscape moments—a tree, a sunrise, or the shimmering edge of the lake.

At night, a unique magic unfolds through a parametrically designed cedar wall with integrated lighting by artist Victoria Fard: like sparks of fire, it transforms the house into a glowing lantern visible from across the lake.

BVTA selected materials that speak of time and nature: cedar wood paired with black zinc, concrete, and glass creates a balance of warmth and strength. The exterior cedar cladding employs the Shou Sugi Ban carbonization technique, enhancing durability and elegance, while the interior combines white cedar, hand-painted cement tiles, and heated concrete floors.

Furniture and details are carefully curated: Muskoka Living, Cassina, Herman Miller, Muuto, De La Espada, with lighting by Flos and Louis Poulsen. Each room is designed to inspire a slower pace of life and a deeper connection with nature.

Founder and lead architect Barbora Vokac Taylor describes the project as “a retreat that offers the luxury of simplicity and a lasting bond with the landscape.” Since its founding in 2013, BVTA has been recognized for creating spaces that connect quality, wellbeing, and sustainability—architecture that is not only functional, but deeply emotional.