This project won a 2018 Award of Excellence from the CNY American Institute of Architects. Taylored Architecture was asked to collaborate with the clients to help design a 24' x 52' houseboat with features including a bedroom, kitchen, outdoor accessible bar, tiered deck space, solar panels, small garden, skiff ramp, shading devices, and two helms. The clients had a desire to utilize sustainable energy concepts. Thus, we devised a solar panel pergola above the bridge. To provide further shading on both deck spaces, we use furling shading devices which hang from a cable trellis work. This project is currently afloat.
Opportunities to have your own houseboat designed and constructed are available. Visit St. Lawrence Barge Yachts for more details and please feel free to contact us with any further questions.
Project built by St. Lawrence Barge Yachts.
Photos by Full Frame Works Photography.
Read the Dwell article, Top 5 Homes of the Week that are Strongly Connected to Bodies of Water.
This project won a 2019 Award of Merit from the CNY American Institute of Architects. Taylored Architecture was commissioned to design a new boathouse with attached living quarters, much like many of the grand boathouses of the area's past. To permit these structures now the "living" element is required to be behind the ordinary-high-water line. The design is traditional in form, but boasts an array of modern amenities. Two bunk rooms, a large bathroom, and outdoor showers were added to the design to create an old camp feel. The siting of the structure is such to maximize views of the spectacular Eel Bay sunsets over the Gananoque Narrows from the living area with the bedroom focusing toward the sunrise over the marsh. Project built by Steve Taylor Builder, Inc. Interior design by Lisa Limited. Photographs by Owen Hoffman Network.
This project won a 2022 Citation of Design from the CNY American Institute of Architects. Taylored Architecture was asked to design a new boat port as part of the Eagle Island Compound on a private island property in the 1000 Islands. We designed the dock system for accessibility during variable water levels. Thus, we designed the center finger of the system as a floating dock, allowing both boats inside of the boat port to have access to a floating dock for easier maneuverability. Project built by Andrecon. Photos by Krista Jahnke Photography.
Taylored Architecture was asked to design a new boat house with a living area on the second floor in the American Narrows on the Saint Lawrence River. The living portion of the boat house is required to be built behind the ordinary high water line and is therefore behind the boat house proper. To see over the roof of the boat house a flat roofed portion was designed reminiscent of some of the historic pavilion style structures seen along the river. To accentuate the flat portion of the roof a spandrel rail is detailed at the transition and the roof below is curved with generous overhangs. A large fireplace anchors the building to shore and focuses the interior space out toward the shipping channel. Project built by Premier Building Associates. Photos by Owen Hoffmann Network.
We were asked to design and permit an enlarged boathouse and dock system. The boathouse is directly in front of the cottage, which required a very low pitched roof to keep the structure out of the view. Historical details, such as brackets and flower boxes were incorporated to match the cottage and coordinate with the Victorian architecture of the community. We worked through the Thousand Island Park Preservation process to obtain approval along with all other State and Federal permit requirements. The docks were constructed by WD Bach Excavating & Consulting and the structure above the dock was completed by Michael Mason Custom Builder.
Photographs by Joseph T. Meirose IV. Aerial Photograph by Feather in Flight Productions.
We were asked to design a substantial addition and structural redesign to an existing boathouse with living quarters. The challenge was keeping the original living quarters while redesigning the project. We visually extended the living quarters as open truss space over the new boathouse slips to create the look of a grand historic yacht house of the area's past. This allowed us to also keep the existing living space while creating a cohesive aesthetic for the project. Project built by Stephen White General Contracting, LLC.
Taylored Architecture was asked to design a cantilevering boat port to create a covered slip with minimal impact on the site and views. This was achieved with the use of a glulam structure integrated with a dock structure with simple carpentry above. The glulam posts and beams were designed to be expressed. The roof structure took on a contemporary form. Project built by Neil Nicol Construction.
Taylored Architecture was asked to design and permit a renovated dock facility with boat port above. The design is a simple steel framed roof structure with water jetted steel "brackets."
We were asked to design a boat port adjacent to a historic, unique skiff house located on the foot of Round Island. We designed the boat port to complement the other historic structures on the site. The skiff house has living spaces above and will be renovated. Construction by Henry Construction. Photos by Joseph T. Meirose IV.
The client purchased a dilapidated existing boathouse with living quarters over the water. They desired to enlarge the structure, raise the ceilings in the slip, and create a commercial office space for their marine construction business. We held the existing exterior walls over the water to keep that portion of the boathouse where it was. We then expanded the structure on land. We achieved the goals of the client and chose to emulate the original structure’s design aesthetic, which lends itself to a historic storefront building. The office belongs to WD Bach Excavating & Consulting and WD Bach completed the construction and site work for the site. Photos by Joseph T. Meirose IV.
We were given the opportunity to design and permit a new boathouse for an existing historic property on Bluff Island. Originally the Bluff Island Lodge had a boathouse with living quarters above. The original structure was lost in the 1950's, but the original architectural drawings remained. With the structure gone we could not reconstruct it as it once was. We created a new single-story boathouse on the existing dock system and incorporated historic detailing from the original structure.
A historic Icehouse and Skiffhouse are to be restored & reconstructed to their original exterior design. By surveying the existing structures and studying historic photos we were able to recreate the original designs from the exterior while modernizing their interior layouts and use. The two structures were infilled to create additional spaces. A new Dining Pavilion was designed to resemble the historic structures.
We were asked to design a new boathouse in place of an existing boathouse with living quarters on an island property in the 1000 Islands that offered the charm of the boathouses historically seen in the area. We used stonework and beautiful arches to create a traditional, welcoming feel. We used historical details from the house on the property to connect the two structures. We permitted this project for building and provided the client with construction drawings.
Taylored Architecture was asked to renovate an existing cottage on Round Island, completely modifying the existing layouts and enlarging the building by five feet to the north to incorporate an interior stair between the first and second floors. Originally, the first floor was a skiff house. The historic front porch was previously poorly renovated. We redesigned the front porch area to become part of the interior living space that resembles a historic glassed in porch. We also added a fireplace to the downstairs living area and balconies at the west and east ends of the structure off of the upstairs bedrooms. Our intention was to add modern amenities and structural features while honoring the unique nature of the original house. Taylored Architecture has completed the schematic design and construction drawings for the project. This project is currently under construction via Morgia Masonry & Construction.
Taylored Architecture was asked to design a boathouse with living quarters on the Genesee River in Rochester, NY. The boathouse design was inspired by the grand boathouses of Lake Muskoka in Ontario, Canada. The client had an existing two slip dock structure that was excavated into the land, thereby allowing a living space to be situated over the water above the slips. We designed this boathouse with living quarters to include generous porches, outdoor living spaces, a private master suite, and open living plan. This project is in the design development phase.
On a very exposed site, we were asked to design a new dock system and boat port. The layout of the docks creates protected slips from nearly all of the site’s exposures. To construct a boat port roof over the dock layout required a large cantilevering roof. The structure is to have painted steel columns and beams. Custom steel brackets will be welded to the columns and beams to provide lateral stability.
We were asked to design a cantilevering boat port. We designed a cantilevering boat port that covers both sides of a single dock, creating two covered slips and a nice walkway. The clients' requested a traditional aesthetic. Thus, we aimed to model the design after old train depots.
Taylored Architecture was asked to design a new boathouse with attached living quarters on an existing dock facility. On the site once stood the original livery structures for the Frontenac Hotel. It was from these original structures that the initial concept of the design was born. To increase the visual dynamic of the composition, and as a nod to the clients' nearby cottage, a tower was also incorporated into the design. On a site with such history it seemed appropriate to create a more tradiltional design for the facility. There is a three-slip boathouse with another covered slip outside of the boathouse, a skiffhouse, and a bunkhouse facility above.
Taylored Architecture was asked to create this schematic design for a charming, traditional-style boathouse. The structure consists of all new docks with two slips within the boathouse and a new dock along the shore with a skiff ramp. The second story area is to act as a game room and storage area with two decks for enjoying the spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River shipping channel. The structure has been designed to match the existing historic main house and its Victorian gingerbread details.
A new client recently purchased property on Oak Island in Chippewa Bay. They looked to Taylored Architecture to design and permit a new boat port on the existing docks,. The design inspiration for this project is a nearby historic boat port the clients had admired for many years. There is a generous cantilivered roof to the East that will sufficiently cover another small boat and steel provisions to allow for future boat lifts.
We were asked to create a multi-slip boathouse that would compliment an existing island house. The boathouse was designed to include a cantilevering roof and also a boat port to help break up the overall mass of the project in relation to the house. The result is a functionally large boathouse that is in keeping with the scale of the rest of the site.
Taylored Architecture was asked to design a new boathouse to resemble the historic two story boathouses of the past. The client also requested a usable deck area. The usable deck is located behind the ordinary high water line to meet permitting restraints and there are inaccessible doors to what looks like the second floor with a cantilevering deck over the water.
We were asked to design a boathouse in Chippewa Bay with the aesthetic look of classic River boathouses. Due to the shoreline topography we also proposed a skiff house storage area at the rear of the facility oriented over land. To help create the historic aesthetic we added brackets, Dutch lap siding, and other historic architectural details.
Taylored Architecture was asked to recreate a Ferry Pavillion from the Thousand Islands' Gilded Age. The property, Hopewell Hall, is part of "Millionaire's Row" and was built and owned by the Boldt family in the late 1800's. The current owners have meticulously restored the main house and would like to recreate the lost outbuildings of the original estate. The Ferry Pavilion was a two-story structure that housed a grand staircase down to what was originally a pier where ferry boats would drop off guests. Above the staircase was a promenade, which most likely was an area for women in the Victorian era to await the ferry boats in the shade. Taylored Architecture was given copies of historic photos from which to work and carefully surveyed the existing site, which consists of elaborate serpentine stone walls. We feel honored to have been asked to create drawings that accurately reflect the original structure.
Taylored Architecture re-designed an existing landscape along the shoreline of the St. Lawrence River. The formal house and new sunroom addition had no relationship to the existing pool and when viewing the River from the house the existing pool drew the eye toward the neighbor's property. The new design situated the pool on axis with the house carrying ones eye out toward the River views. A pool cabana was designed for summer shade and outdoor entertaining. Multiple tree plantings were schematically planned to visually block the neighboring properties from view. Lastly the pool barrier/fence was run in such a way that it did not separate the pool from the River and opened up the River views when sitting by the pool. Project built by Steve Taylor Builder, Inc.
