PORTFOLIO

Manitowaning Outdoor Fireplace Shelter

Aundeck Omni Kaning Ceremonial Building

For this project, we began by pulling big boulders out of the side of the field.

 

The 13 posts represent the 13 moons of the year. The boulders are known as “grandfathers” in Anishinaabe teachings.

 

The boulders are partially embedded into a concrete pad and we scribed the posts on top of these boulders.

As with other traditional ceremonial buildings, the unique design challenge is to make the structure as culturally appropriate as possible, while adhering to the engineering requirements and the building code.

 

The rafters are arranged in a “reciprocal” system, wherein each rafter supports the one above it and rests on the one below it, creating a compression ring in the centre. The hole allows for the smoke of the ceremonial fire to escape.
This building will be used for traditional ceremonies and traditional funerals.

 

In Anishinaabe culture, when someone passes, their family keeps the fire burning for some days to honour the life of the person, telling stories of their life by the fireside.

Kagawong Lake-side Porch

This 36’x16′ porch faces west and overlooks Lake Kagawong. It’s framed in Eastern White Pine, stained with a beautiful dark stain.

 

The ceiling is unfinished 2×6 tongue-and-groove pine boards. The full 1 1/2″ board thickness allows the asphalt shingles to be installed right on top.

 

The owners did a great job finishing off the wall and installing a ceiling fan. What an amazing spot to relax, unwind and take in some stunning lakeside views!

 

This entrance porch is sure to last and be utilized daily for generations to come.

Birch Island Timber Frame Porch

This 16’x10′ timber-framed porch took a challenging site and turned it into a work of art. The bedrock outcrop in front of the front door meant that the porch had to turn 90 degrees. Luckily, using a timber framing method allows you to do pretty much anything you want!

 

We built it using mostly a square-rule layout system and scribed in the live-edge collar ties.

 

The porch is made of all Eastern White Pine and the collar ties are Ash. The Ash logs was destined to be cut into firewood, but we up-cycled them to this use.

​

The outside corner has a cool roof member called a dragon beam: that’s the piece that the hip rafter lands into. The compound joinery on this project was fun, it all went together like a glove.

Cedar Deck

This multi-tiered 700 square foot cedar deck took over a year to plan and organize. The first thing was to source the perfect cedar trees and to mill the slabs for the railing. Then, we had to find and peel by hand over 300 balusters. This was no small task! Once we started work on-site, it went quickly, and the project was complete on time and on budget, as always. All the cedar came from the Island. The result: a lovely deck for the owners to enjoy for years to come. Check out the video to see how we did it!

Ceremonial Building on McLean's Mountain

This 13-sided ceremonial building is purposely built for holding Anishinaabe ceremonies four times a year. Eastern White Cedar was used for the entire build. Roofing is cedar bark shingles. The posts are scribed to boulders and each board is scribed to its neighbour to archive an organic feel. The only straight line in the entire structure is the railing. Take a look at the video below for more info.

Misery Bay Trail Marker

When you are hiking in one of the more remote Provincial Parks in Ontario the last thing you probably want is to lose the trail. This sturdy trail marker will not blow away and it will point you in the right direction for years to come.

 

Made out of locally harvested Eastern White Cedar, the bottom braces were specifically chosen for this project from bowed trees which otherwise would have been cut to make a logging trail and left to rot in the bush. They are connected to the main post with traditional mortice-and-tenon joints, secured with oak pegs.

Big Lake Gable Shingles

The owners wanted a subtle artistic touch added to the cedar shingled gabled on this re-siding project. It was important that the artwork does not jump out at you but is still noticeable. The owners being avid birdwatchers, the choice was obvious: bird silhouettes!

Covered Porch in M'Chigeeng

This covered porch was framed in solid White Pine. All wood for the project was harvested and milled on the Island. A North American “square rule” system was used on this project. The dimensions of the existing house dictated a complicated roof system – and it turned out great. The clients are very happy with the new look of their house.

Basement Entrance Porch in Big Lake

This covered basement entry porch was framed in solid White Cedar. All wood for the project was harvested and milled on the Island. George went to look for the curved trees in the forest. A combination of North American “square rule” and the European “scribe rule” systems were used in this project. The result is a subtle beauty that does not jump out at first glance but captivates your eye and your heart the more you study the beautiful grain and traditional joinery.

Entrance Porch in Kagawong

This entrance porch was framed in solid White Pine. The clients wanted a timber frame that would transform the look of their 1980’s bungalow. With 8″x10″ top plates, 8″x8″ posts, and traditional mortice-and-tenon joinery throughout, that is exactly the result. Stained dark brown, this porch is sure to last for generations to come.

Thatcher's Restaurant in UK

In 2015, George had the honour to assist Oak Apple Frames of Somerset, UK, with cutting and raising this solid oak frame. All joints were scribed with little more than a string, a rock, and an eyeball, using a centuries-old “scribe rule” system. The result is a spectacular, flowing, organic shape that is impossible to archive by any other means. Buildings constructed using this method have survived in the UK for over 800 years.

Various Timber Frames in Muskoka

George was fortunate to apprentice under a Master Carpenter Henry Kranz of Timmerman Timberworks. It was during this three-year apprenticeship that he worked on these White Pine frames.
Scroll to Top