Whistling Wind Island

Completed 2024

Located in the northern Canadian landscape, Whistling Wind Island emerges from the vast open water off the east coast of Georgian Bay in Pointe Au Baril, Ontario. Inspired by the beauty of the archipelago, a collection of smaller scale buildings with asymmetrical rooflines sit upon a one acre island of exposed Precambrian bedrock. The silhouette of the seemingly wind-swept rooflines set against the endless expanse of sky reflects the context of the surrounding chain of islands which crop up through the continuous water surface, creating intermittent moments of pause along the horizon.    

The main Cottage and Bunkie were built largely upon the footprint of the original buildings. Along with the addition of a freestanding Sauna and a Boat Storage/Fitness building, a community of modest cabins evolved. Exterior roof and walls have a continuous relationship, clad in rustic western red cedar shakes, typical of the local vernacular yet applied to a new building form to accentuate the profile of each cabin. 

The Cottage consists of two bedrooms, a shared washroom and open concept kitchen, living, dining area with a Laundry/Mud Room.

Team

Kelly Buffey, Robert Kastelic, Donald Peckover, Byron White, Tim Wat, Antonio Morais, Nicole Rak

Furniture Curation

Anne Hepfer Design Inc.

Photography

Doublespace

Awards

Future House Award Best Vacation Home Winner
Global Architecture & Design Award (GADA) Small Private Residence Winner
Architecture MasterPrize Recreational Architecture Winner
Gray Awards Residential People's Choice Winner
Gray Awards Residential Architecture Finalist
OAA Design Excellence Awards Finalist