DogTrot Magnetawan

“This cottage reimagines the dogtrot, a 19th-century dwelling from the American Southeast, as a prototype for sustainable living in Ontario. Traditionally, the dogtrot linked two structures with a breezeway that functioned as both passage and gathering space. Here, that form becomes the foundation for a project that unites vernacular form, contemporary detailing, and rigorous sustainability.

Set on a small piece of tableland above a southern Ontario lake, the house negotiates the steep site by projecting forward rather than cutting into the land… Two gabled volumes are joined by a breezeway beneath a continuous roof: Eating, sleeping, and living areas, along with a loft that bridges above the passage, take advantage of the generous section.” - Text from Williamson Williamson

Photographed in winter 2023 and again in summer 2024, the project has gone on to win multiple awards and commendations including from the World Architecture Festival, Interior Design Magazine, and Wood Works Ontario.

The project was published in The Plan’s September 2025 issue.

Architect:
Williamson Williamson

Location:
Magnetawan, Canada