Along the rocky shoreline of Georgian Bay in Ontario, the Georgian Bay Beach House replaces a long-standing family cottage with a residence conceived for permanence. Designed by &Pierre, the 3,780-square-foot home responds directly to its coastal setting while addressing the demands of year-round living. The project reinterprets the traditional cottage typology through a contemporary spatial framework, grounding the new structure in memory while establishing a clear architectural identity for the future.
HOUSING
Positioned at the water’s edge, the house engages the landscape through orientation and transparency. Expansive glazing frames uninterrupted views of the bay and allows shifting daylight to define interior conditions throughout the day. The architecture establishes a continuous relationship between interior and exterior, where horizon lines, reflections, and seasonal changes remain present within the living environment. This openness reinforces the home’s role as both shelter and vantage point, rooted in the geography that surrounds it.
Material selection reinforces the connection to place. White oak, locally sourced limestone, plaster, and linen define the interior palette, introducing natural textures that reference sand, rock, and shoreline vegetation. Neutral tones dominate, punctuated by muted coastal hues that echo the water and sky. The restrained use of materials ensures consistency across spaces while allowing subtle variations in grain, tone, and surface to create visual depth. Custom millwork by Riverside Custom Cabinetry integrates storage seamlessly into the architecture, preserving clarity and continuity.
The residence unfolds across three levels, organized to support intuitive circulation and long-term accessibility. Spatial planning reflects principles of aging in place, ensuring that movement between floors and rooms remains practical over time. Each zone balances openness and enclosure, allowing private areas to coexist with shared gathering spaces. Kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas maintain direct connections to light and landscape, reinforcing comfort while maintaining architectural discipline.
Lighting plays a critical role in shaping atmosphere. Custom fixtures by Sara Woodby Hand and Concord Lighting introduce subtle points of illumination that respond to the home’s material palette. Rather than dominating the interior, lighting elements emphasize texture, reflectivity, and spatial rhythm, extending the dialogue between architecture and environment into evening hours.
Andrea Pierre, founder of &Pierre, developed the interior design during her tenure as co-founder and design director at Westgrove. Working in collaboration with architect Don Schmitt and Gio Tassone Architects, builder Valley View Construction, and photographer Riley Snelling, the project brings together architectural precision and material restraint. The result establishes a residence designed to endure, where architecture, interior, and landscape converge into a unified coastal environment shaped by longevity and place.
