Article source: PARTISANS

The blue waters of Lake Huron—located north of Toronto—complement its majestic surroundings and offer a dream-like location for a retreat. A sensual environment, its serene landscape reminds the temporary dwellers of the harmony that exist beyond human possibilities. When PARTISANS team met on site, with a new client for designing and constructing a potential Sauna, they knew that their most prominent challenge was to make a free-standing structure that not only respected, but also matured from the context. Located within the Georgian Bay, the site is a prehistoric large-scale rock formation. Contemplated research was conducted, and through the process a Grotto was set as an inspiration that would inform the design. Grottos, historically, have been known as natural or artificial caves that are embedded deep behind the curvature of streams, and thus discovered by those who would take the time to explore.

Image Courtesy © PARTISANS

• Architects: PARTISANS
• Project: Grotto
• Location: Georgian Bay, Canada
• Partisans Team: Alexander Josephson, Pooya Baktash, Jonathan Friedman, Shamir Panchal, Ivan Vasyliv, Betty Vuong, Nathan Bishop
• Client: withheld
• Contractor: Jordan Construction, Chantler Barging
• Wood Installation: MCM Inc
• Engineering: MOSES Inc
• Glass Systems: AGNORA
• Sauna Systems: Energy Misers
• Lighting Consulting: G2J Design Inc

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