Cardwell Clubhouse

Set at the edge of a clearing created for the photovoltaic array that powers the site, Cardwell Clubhouse is an off-grid hybrid building that is part utility and part leisure hub. Designed for an outdoors-oriented family, it serves as the social and recreational hub of a forested compound, supporting year-round activity while acting as a gateway to the site.

The clubhouse is conceived as a single, elongated volume that refines the familiar geometry of local agricultural sheds into a precise contemporary form. A long one-storey structure is capped by an expansive gabled roof with deep overhangs on all sides, anchoring the building within the landscape while framing views to the forest and adjacent sport courts. Its exposed timber structure defines the architecture: beams extend from the roof to support the eaves, clearly expressing load, rhythm, and proportion.

The plan is divided into two complementary halves. On the lake-facing side, a warm, wood-lined multipurpose room functions as clubhouse, recreation space, and flexible guest suite, with kitchenette and washroom. Large sliding glass doors open directly to the sports court, creating a seamless flow between indoor activity and outdoor play. On the driveway side, a utilitarian garage stores outdoor and water-sport equipment, while a dedicated battery room supporting the site’s renewable-energy system. Together, these spaces support the family’s outdoor-focused lifestyle and provide a separate place for guests beyond the main cottage.

Material restraint reinforces the clarity of the design. The interior is wrapped in locally milled hemlock and cedar, with vertical wall boards accentuating the vaulted ceiling. Externally, dark-stained vertical wood siding grounds the building within the forest, while the exposed timber structure and deep eaves reinterpret regional agricultural and lodge vernaculars. Carefully resolved detailing and joinery prioritizes clarity and durability, allowing the clubhouse to read as a pared-back study in structure, shelter, and craft.