Building your dream cottage on a steep lakefront lot might seem impossible—but it’s not. In this episode of Build the Unbuildable, architect James Pitropov and co-host John Tyreman unpack the art and science of designing for topography. From strategic surveying and ICF foundations to retaining walls, terraces, and multi-level layouts, James explains how thoughtful design can transform vertical challenges into breathtaking opportunities.

You’ll also learn why early collaboration—with surveyors, engineers, and municipalities—can make or break a steep-site project, and how regulatory hurdles like Committee of Adjustment approvals can be navigated with creativity and confidence.

Whether you’re dreaming of a lakefront retreat or planning a major rebuild, this episode will help you see steep sites not as obstacles—but as the foundation for something extraordinary.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
01:09 Kawartha Cottage
06:30 Regulatory Committees
09:55 Original Structure
13:00 Elevation Map
19:21 Cottage Country
25:45 The build
30:45 Cutting Into The Terrain
36:23 How To Break Down A Site
46:16 Working Within A Short Construction Season
53:11 Conclusion
56:03 Free PDF Guide

Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-pitropov-783029156/
Learn more: https://lakesidearchitecture.ca/

Learn more at https://lakesidearchitecture.ca/

Should you renovate or rebuild your lakeside cottage?

On this episode, Principal Architect James Pitropov and co-host John Tyreman explore how to decide what’s worth saving—from family memories to grandfathered footprints—in your lakeside cottage. Featuring a stunning Georgian Bay project in Killarney, this episode shows how thoughtful design can turn limitations into possibilities.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Renovating vs Rebuilding
07:30 Additional Challenges
10:45 Regulatory Complications
14:57 Projecting Cost
20:15 Site Story Segment
20:53 Georgian Bay Renovation with Environmental Restrictions
28:01 Considerations for Building on Sites With Constraints
30:12 Design Your Dream Home Guide

Learn more: https://lakesidearchitecture.ca/
Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-pitropov-783029156/

Learn more at https://lakesidearchitecture.ca/

Design Your Dream Home Guide:

In this episode of Build The Unbuildable, James Pitropov, Principal at Lakeside Architecture Inc, shares his experience building on some of the most challenging sites in Ontario's cottage country; islands. How do you transport equipment and materials? What is the environmental impact? What should be factored into the design of such a cottage? We answer all these questions and more.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Challenges of Building on an Island
01:20 Logistics and Design Considerations
07:21 Environmental Impact and Considerations
12:49 Powering a Lakeside Cottage
17:55 Case Study: Bass Island Cottage
25:04 Designing Your Dream Home
30:26 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-pitropov-783029156/
Learn more about Lakeside Architecture Inc: https://lakesidearchitecture.ca/

Learn more at https://lakesidearchitecture.ca/

If you’ve ever dreamed about building a lakeside cottage or marveled at those stunning boathouses dotting Ontario’s shorelines, this show is for you. In this trailer video, host John Tyreman introduces Build the Unbuildable and his co-host, architect James Pitropov of Lakeside Architecture Inc. Together, they preview what’s to come — from stories of nostalgia and family traditions on the lake to the rise of new cottagers seeking serenity and million-dollar views.

Subscribe now and join us behind the scenes of cottage country design and construction. You’ll never look at the shoreline the same way again.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Lakeside Architecture Podcast
00:26 Why Build Cottages on a Lake?
01:27 Categories of Cottage Owners
02:21 Subscribe to Build the Unbuildable

Learn more at https://lakesidearchitecture.ca/