Located on one of the many islands dotting The Archipelago in Georgian Bay, Ontario, this private boathouse and docking facility designed by Kevin Weiss of Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited exemplifies a quiet and precise modernism. Through careful form-making and the use of rustic materials, the project responds gently both to the natural and cultural context of the area, where historically built-form yields to the power of the landscape with its exposed and glacially carved granite and wind swept jack pines.

Sitting on a structure of robust timber and rock cribs, the large cedar dock, and its amenities, is the primary location of the family’s daytime leisure activities – both active and reposed.  The building elements consists of the cedar dock, floating docks and bridges, a storage building for kayaks, canoes and windsurfing equipment, a food servery, linear shade canopies, and a covered seating pavilion.

The storage building is clad with black stained resawn cedar, while the steel pavilion structure is covered with cedar and terne coated copper. The two are connected with a light, steel, and canvas linear shade canopy structure. On approach, due to its thinness, lightness and horizontality, the finely crafted ensemble almost disappears as it recedes into the landscape. In the evening, gentle up-lighting of the pavilion provides a warm beacon for late arriving guests.

As the dock extends out far into a small bay, it sits under the cover of the pavilion and blends into the surrounding panorama of smooth granite, still water, and commanding jack pines. The landscape remains the dominant experience.

^{Project Credits:}

^{Conceptual Design:}

^{Kevin Weiss, Maya Przybylski (weissbau inc.)}

^{Contract Documentation:}

^{Kevin Weiss – Principal, Steve James (Larkin Architect Limited)}

^{Kevin Weiss – Principal, Sophie Tremblay, Tings Chak  (Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited)}

^{Structural Engineering:}                 

^{David Bowick, Matt Bowick (Blackwell Engineering)}

^Photography:                                   

^{Arnaud Marthouret}

About Weiss Architecture and Urbanism Limited

Located in Toronto, Ontario, Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited was foounded in 2012. Maintainig a high level of professionalism and service, the firm strives for design excellence and innovation. 

Born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, firm principal Kevin Weiss studied architecture at the University of Manitoba and University of Toronto. Early in his career, Kevin had the opportunity to work closely with some of Canada’s preeminent architects, including Diamond Schmitt Architects where he was the Project Architect for several buildings including the The Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1999, Kevin returned to the University of Toronto’s for its inaugural year of the Master of Urban Design program. Subsequently, Kevin has taught architecture and urban design, lectured and guest reviewed at the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, Ryerson University, the University of Guelph and University of Illinois, Chicago.

In 2000, Kevin established his first design practice weissbau incorporated. Along with a series of residential projects, the firm was short-listed with Gustafson Guthrie Nichol as team urban design consultant in the International Harbourfront Parks and Open Space Competition. At this time, Kevin also began a long relationship with Larkin Architect Limited – first as the design consultant for St Gabriel’s Parish, then as firm Principal – where he initiated a new and exciting design direction for the firm. His noted projects include Regis College at the University of Toronto, Kingsway College School, Stan Wadlow Public Outdoor Pool, Temple Kol Ami and the Belanger / Simpson House.

Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited continues and furthers this established pursuit of design excellence. Working in a variety of sectors – educational, civic and residential, the firm is quickly gaining significant recognition with projects such as the Sarnia Waterfront Amphitheatre and most recently its winning entry “The Hole Idea” in the Winnipeg Warming Hut International Design Competition.

_{On Twitter: @weiss_au}