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fog: the morning light
The morning light cuts through the fog as the sun rises over the hill on the east. The cottage was designed strategically to make the most of this experience. The wrap around deck overlooks the valley and draws us close to the majestic pine tree. In the fall it is a special place to take in the changing of the colours amongst the tree tops. The sunlight strikes the screened porch as it rises, this is where we enjoy having our morning coffee and listen to the birds singing.
The atmosphere in the fall mornings is so theatrical as the fog rolls in and dissolves in the span of an hour. In the planning stages of the design I have spent countless days sitting in various locations to determine where the desirable place the cottage would be built to take in such magical moments. After careful consideration I knew that this was the place.
The lake appears to be still andso mysterious with the backdrop of the morning fog. The landscape appears out of lightness. There is no horizon. The air is heavy and everything appears to be a suspended reality. With the heat from the sun the fog draws out unveiling the setting.
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Fall - a hike in the woods
Every year we go for a hike in the woods on our property to take in the change in the season. The trees turn colours that change in the course of days. The maples provide a glowing canopy of bright gold high above and the ground is scattered in a vibrant carpet of falling leaves. The weather is perfect and the natural light in the forest is so inviting! There aren’t any bugs and we wander freely in the woods for hours discovering and taking it all in. The leaves change colour every day and it happens so quickly before they fall. We were very fortunate to experience an indian summer over thanksgiving this year.
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fall - turning of the season
Fall is my favorite time of year to be up at the cottage. The landscape completely transforms with the turning colours of the leaves. The ground is covered by a bed of soft pine needles and bright coloured leafs from the maple and oak trees.The lake is still in the morning as the fog rolls into the bay and dissolves as the morning sun breaks over the hill on the east. All is quiet on the lake, we feel like we are the only ones around. It is mid October and indian summer has come at an opportune time.
Every thanksgiving weekend I make it a ritual to go on long hikes to experience the change in the season. The forest thins out beautifully illuminated in shades of gold and red. The terrain appears to be more open and you can see across the valleys, hills and the trees. The rocks are covered in soft moss, pine needles and wilting ferns. A variety of mushrooms, fungus and moss grow on fallen trees as they decompose back into the earth as part of the natural lifecycle.
This is the time I love spending the day in the woods, climbing up to the waterfall and discovering the landscape. Each setting and habitat has it’s unique transformation. The rich textures and surface patterns in nature at both micro and macro scale appear to be perfect harmony and balance. The big picture becomes clearer. Nature has a way of healing itself and adapting in time, it is so powerful and beautiful. I am reminded of Terrance Mallick’s remarkable film - The Tree of Life.
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fall
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lakeside
The lake has become part of our living experience. It is a threshold we pass when we leave the car and head to the cabin —in that time I go through a decompression. Nothing matters anymore, just the experience of crossing the lake in silence to a sanctuary. By the time we reach our dock we feel different. The air, the temperature, the scent of the forest and the soft ground covered in pine needles, the sound of birds and a clear view of the horizon; all of these things heighten our senses.
This is the first time for me to live by a lake. It is beautiful and always seems to be transforming. The light changes dramatically and I have never been so aware of the skyscape. The weather and cloud formations seem to take a turn as they pass over the water. The light shifts dramatically over the surface plane and the texture and skin of the water is always at play. Sometimes it is still like a sheet of glass and at other times it is threatening with whitecaps.
As the sun is setting in the west, the rock face in the bay glows and is rendered by the reflection of the waves climbing up its surface and onto the pine trees above. We often swim out into the bay and experience it from the water.
The thermal dynamics shift during the day as breezes move towards the land and at night they are drawn towards the water. This observation was important to consider when mapping out the design of the cottage.
In the fall, the mist rolls in off the lake into the bay and the horizon disappears. As it lifts with the heat of sunshine the vapour evaporates within minutes and unveils the landscape.
I have heard about the time there was a flash freeze in the winter. The lake froze completely clear and people were skating on the surface and able to see fallen tree limbs and rocks under the water. One of the strangest things I’ve seen is the formation of crystalline frost on the shore in the winter. They look like plucked feathers. I don’t think it’s common and it shows how magical nature is.
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DISCOVERY
After viewing numerous properties, friends of ours showed us a property in The Haliburton Highlands on the same lake as their cottage - a water access property. I remember the first time we saw the property. I was in awe of the scale and magnitude of the property and its landscape. 43 acres of privacy, 2500 ft shorefront, sandy beach, private bay, waterfall, massive rock cliff and a natural forest. Complete privacy and away from any noise or neighbours.
It was natural and dramatic, almost mythical and totally breathtaking. The bay was filled by a dense fog, silhouettes of rock formations and large trees appear along the shoreline as we approached the beach for a landing.
As we hiked along deer paths I started to realize how diverse this lot was and it had it’s natural ecosystems that merged around the bay. Inside the valley there is a fern bed, a waterfall that fills the air with sound, majestic trees with roots creeping on rock faces. There is a massive split in the rock created created by glaciers. Nature appears powerful and majestic in this place with little sign of control and intervention from man in a long time.
We loved it at first sight and quickly realized that this place could very well change our lives. In retrospect it clearly has.I knew if we were to stay here it would engage us for a lifetime with the changing season, natural cycles and habitat.
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Welcome to Treehouse
A few years ago we bought a lakeside property in Haliburton Ontario. We were looking for a place that would be our retreat in a natural setting - a getaway from the chaotic energy of our urban life. We found a magical place where we would be reconnected with nature, enjoy simple pleasures, and have a more peaceful and balanced lifestyle.
I am a founding partner of 3rd Uncle design based in Toronto. My wife, Suzanne Dimma is the editor-in-chief at Canadian House & Home magazine. Together we set out to build our retreat - an off-the-grid sustainable modern cottage.
This blog will share some thoughts, experiences, inspirations and provide insight to our hands-on approach from the early concept stages of design through to construction, working closely and in collaboration with a small crew of builders and with a little help from my friends.
Arriz
