Ontario Cottage
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Cottage is a style of house
that was commonly built in 19th century Ontario
, Canada
. The Ontario Cottage became popular in the 1820s and remained a common style until the end of that century. They were mainly built in rural and small town areas, less so in larger cities. This was the period in which European settlers first populated much of the region, and throughout the province Ontario Cottages are some of the oldest houses.
The Ontario Cottage is essentially a Regency
-style structure, with symmetrical, rectangular plans. The style was efficient and easy to build for the settlers with limited resources. The typical cottage had one-and-a-half storeys and large windows, made possible by relatively cheap mass-produced glass. The most distinctive feature of the Ontario Cottage was the single gable
above the door in the centre of the building. By the second half of the 19th century Gothic
had become the most popular architectural style in Canada. Many Ontario Cottages built during this era incorporate Gothic ornamentation, most often added to the gable.
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
that was commonly built in 19th century Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Ontario Cottage became popular in the 1820s and remained a common style until the end of that century. They were mainly built in rural and small town areas, less so in larger cities. This was the period in which European settlers first populated much of the region, and throughout the province Ontario Cottages are some of the oldest houses.
The Ontario Cottage is essentially a Regency
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
-style structure, with symmetrical, rectangular plans. The style was efficient and easy to build for the settlers with limited resources. The typical cottage had one-and-a-half storeys and large windows, made possible by relatively cheap mass-produced glass. The most distinctive feature of the Ontario Cottage was the single gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
above the door in the centre of the building. By the second half of the 19th century Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
had become the most popular architectural style in Canada. Many Ontario Cottages built during this era incorporate Gothic ornamentation, most often added to the gable.