A humble cabin in the woods is a place for sanctuary and respite, where the pace of life slows down and one can mentally regroup and connect with nature. Nestled discreetly within a dense forest in Grey County, Ontario, is a lovely little structure that conceptual painter Janna Watson uses as a permanent studio retreat where she can hone her creativity by immersing herself in the wilderness. But how did it get here?
After finding the 5.7-hectare plot of land and ready to build, Watson called on long-time acquaintance Michael Curtis, an architectural designer and creative director of Verge Select in Meaford, Ontario, who is familiar with the area; the two originally met some 10 years ago when Curtis commissioned one of Watson’s large-scale paintings for a project he was working on. After discussing the necessary requirements — a light-filled workspace that preserves the integrity of the mature forest setting being top of list — Watson and Curtis walked the land together to find the ideal spot for what would eventually be a 159-square-metre three-volume pavilion that fans out from a central axis like a deck of cards.
It was important to both Watson and Curtis that the studio should recede into the landscape rather than impose upon it. While wood might have been an obvious choice, Curtis had another material in mind: plain mild steel. “Wood was never really a consideration,” says the designer. “Steel is durable and can handle the huge snow loads the area receives in winter.” Curtis points out its ability to weather naturally within the surrounding forest landscape; it was also a cost-effective selection to keep the project on budget.
Taking a completely hands-on approach is how Curtis operates. His studio has a 1,859-square-metre multidisciplinary fabrication facility for custom millwork, furniture and lighting, architectural metalwork and stone processing. There, he designed and cut the 600 steel panels that would clad Watson’s structure, using material that is thicker than typical facade cladding. The panels were intentionally varied in size and proportion “to create a less uniform composition that responds more naturally to the shifting grades and irregular character of the site.” Attached to the structural framework with spiral uncoated hanger nails, the custom panels have a half-inch radius edge, with some fasteners left exposed and others concealed; formed metal battens separate each panel, their deliberately irregular arrangement softening the visual repetition across the building envelope. While the low-carbon metal will age beautifully with time, the mild steel panels were pre-patinated at the shop for overall consistency and cohesion. EPDM was chosen for the flat roof thanks to its resistance to freeze–thaw cycles and extreme weather.
To bring that much-desired natural light into the interiors, Curtis installed custom 1.2-by 3.0-metre windows from Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions. Set back from the building’s perimeter, the fenestration provides a sense of depth and dimension and affords Watson spectacular views of the surroundings.
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