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A compact cabin set high above the landscape
New Atlas describes Bunkie on the Hill as the smallest structure in a collection spread across four family properties. It sits at the top of a steep hill in Muskoka, where the surrounding forest and lake inform both its form and its outlook. The feature reports the cabin’s floor area as 1,000 sq ft (95 sq m).
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Rather than relying on a large footprint to create a sense of spaciousness, the design uses roof height, carefully placed glazing and a loft to make the interior feel open and connected to its setting.
How the intersecting gables shape the interior
The defining move is a split roof formed by two intersecting gables. Their meeting creates unusual geometric window openings and gives the interior its vaulted character. The roof is more than a visual signature: it lets the living space read as taller and more expansive than its compact footprint might suggest.
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The result is a modern take on the classic A-frame, but the intersecting roof planes and varied openings give the cabin a distinct profile rather than a single, uninterrupted triangular volume.
Lake views balanced with forest-side privacy
The cabin’s glazing is oriented to make the most of its hillside position without treating every side of the building alike. A tall glazed façade faces the lake, drawing the view into the interior. By contrast, the forest-facing side is more opaque, providing privacy and shelter.
Approach is also shaped by screening: the west-side entrance is reached along a walkway bordered by a cedar screen. Together, the orientation and screen create a more sheltered arrival before the interior opens toward the lake.
A lower living level and a view-oriented loft
The lower level combines open living and dining space with a kitchen, while a master bedroom sits at the rear. The living area opens onto a large timber terrace, extending the everyday gathering space outdoors.
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Above, a loft adds sleeping space and includes a built-in desk. Its position overlooking the living area and toward the lake connects the upper level to the main room and the landscape beyond.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Wood, stone and restrained finishes
New Atlas describes a natural material palette that brings warmth to the sharply defined roof geometry. Reported finishes and materials include FSC-rated wood, wood siding, natural cedar soffits, Western red cedar ceiling boards, oak flooring, maple plywood partitions and stairs, graystone limestone countertops, and dark charcoal window frames.
The materials are used across different parts of the cabin rather than as a single surface treatment: cedar appears at the soffits and ceiling, oak underfoot, maple plywood in partitions and stairs, and limestone on the kitchen counters.
Energy features and the reported insulation claim
New Atlas reports thickened walls, triple-glazed windows, a minimal heating system, low-flow plumbing, energy-efficient light fixtures and a wood burner. The feature attributes an R-value of over 40 to the thickened walls, triple glazing and minimal heating system. That is a project claim as reported by New Atlas, not an independently verified rating; the feature does not provide technical documentation or the calculation basis.
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Bunkie on the Hill’s sense of openness comes from several decisions working together: the intersecting gables give the interior height and distinctive apertures; the lake-facing glazing prioritizes the view; the more opaque forest side and cedar-screened approach preserve shelter and privacy; and the loft uses the upper volume for both sleeping and work. The project demonstrates how roof form, orientation and a carefully arranged plan can make a small hillside escape feel closely tied to its surroundings without relying on glazing on every side.
Project details and the reported performance figures are from Bridget Borgobello’s New Atlas feature, published September 18, 2024. The feature describes the project and credits Dubbeldam; it does not establish independent technical verification of the insulation claim.
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