The Ontario Cottage

The history, aesthetics, and significance of Ontario's iconic small house.

In the evolution of Ontario’s domestic architecture, the Ontario Cottage is one of a small number of distinctive imported-and then modified—houseforms that today is among the most recognizable in the province.

A single storey, hipped-roof building with a door placed squarely in the centre with windows on either side, the charm of the Ontario Cottage lies in its symmetry, simplicity, and proportions. From stately cottages made of dressed masonry to humbler cottages clad in board and batten, it is adaptable in form, and found in different settings from Southwestern Ontario to the Ottawa Valley, including cities, small towns, and rural areas.

This is the first full-length exploration of this enduring houseform and its ubiquity in the province. Through detailed prose, architectural illustrations, and stunning photographs, this book traces the origins of the cottage, its design lineage, construction, and distinctive parts, and shares the perspectives of its inhabitants.

While explaining its ongoing appeal, The Ontario Cottage makes the case for the recognition and conservation of the Ontario Cottage as a defining attribute of the province’s cultural landscape.