The Island Yacht Club

The Island Yacht Club is a building designed for people who would rather be outside.

The structure hovers slightly above the flat sandy ground of Mugg’s Island which forms part of the archipelago of the Toronto Islands. It is visually isolated from the city yet only minutes away across the water.

The new building replaces an older, beloved clubhouse that was destroyed by fire in June 2003. The program consists of a lounge, bar, dining room, kitchen and locker space for use by members and guests. The program components of the building are arranged to both define outdoor places and to integrate existing site features with the interior. The 7,600 square foot building consists of two parallel wings; one overlooks the front lawn and docks containing public functions; while the other contains the locker rooms. An exterior court between the two wings of the building provides an outdoor place intended for use by the members enjoying the pool. The kitchen connects the two wings and frames a third side to the pool court, while separating service functions from public functions.