Press Release
Burk Boathouse Cottage Interior Design by Nargiza Usmanova Is Granted the Bronze A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Nargiza Usmanova honored for interior space and exhibition design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 21, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Burk Boathouse Cottage Interior Design by Nargiza Usmanova, designed for Mezza Studio, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Bronze A' Design Award Means
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
More About Burk Boathouse Cottage Interior Design
Burk Boathouse is a cottage interior design for a lakefront retreat on Jack Lake in Ontario, Canada. The single-storey boathouse forms part of a private estate and contains eight bedrooms. Timber construction, premium finishes, floor-to-ceiling windows and twelve-foot ceilings frame views of the lake and the forest. A large deck with a canopy, a dock, a sauna, a gym and a cinema support rest and recreation. The layout guides guests smoothly between social, wellness and lakeside areas, offering privacy, comfort and year-round use.
About Nargiza Usmanova
NARGIZA USMANOVA Designer & Visual Artist Nargiza Usmanova is an award-winning visual artist and creative designer with an international career spanning more than 20 years. Based in Toronto, she specializes in Exhibit Design, Industrial & Lighting Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, and large-scale public art. She holds a diploma in Industrial & Graphic Design and has served in prominent roles such as Chief Designer and Art Director, contributing her expertise to multidisciplinary creative projects across the globe.
Award Record
With this recognition, Nargiza Usmanova is a winner of 11 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2020 - 2021 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/180751
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/180751
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!180751
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/245816
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://jacklakeestate.com/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Burk Boathouse Cottage Interior Design
- Function
- Cottage Interior Design
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Black, Gray, Rosy Brown, Dim Gray and Tan
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Mezza Studio
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Nargiza Usmanova
- Country
- Canada
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #180751
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer Maxim Zinchuk, Burk's Falls Boathouse, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The boathouse, part of a private luxury cottage estate, is an architect‑designed lakefront retreat distinguished by its secluded setting, premium materials, and eight‑bedroom layout. Nestled on Jack Lake, it combines contemporary craftsmanship, expansive glazing, and forest integration to deliver exceptional privacy, comfort, and year‑round livability.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the serenity of Canadian wilderness, this project draws from the clarity of modern minimalism and the quiet power of Jack Lake’s landscape. The design emerged from a desire to merge refined architectural restraint with the warmth of Canadian hospitality, creating a retreat that elevates nature through thoughtful research, material precision, and spatial calm.
- Research
- This applied design research aimed to create a lakefront retreat that blends comfort with natural immersion. Using site analysis, climate study, and material testing, the team gathered data through environmental observations and user‑flow simulations. Results showed that expansive glazing, spatial zoning, and durable finishes improved light, privacy, and year‑round use. The insights support better residential design in remote settings and enhance real‑life living, tourism, and regional development.
- Challenge
- The main challenge was designing a large retreat that felt both private and integrated with the natural landscape. Remote‑site logistics, climate constraints, and strict building regulations shaped every decision. Limited access, material transport, and winter conditions required adaptive planning. Balancing modern comfort with environmental sensitivity led to innovative spatial solutions and durable construction choices.
- Realization and Technology
- An architectural project defined by floor‑to‑ceiling windows, timber construction, a single‑storey private cottage layout, premium finishes, and expansive lake views, complemented by resort‑level recreational amenities.
- Operation and Interaction
- Guests move through the retreat with ease, transitioning from lakeside relaxation to wellness and social spaces. The private dock, hot tub, and large deck invite outdoor gathering, while the amenity wing offers sauna, gym, and theatre experiences. Each area is designed for intuitive use, creating a smooth flow that enhances comfort, connection, and restorative lakefront living.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in April 2021 in Torino and was completed in May 2025, situated 300 km north of Toronto on the tranquil shores of Jack Lake near Burk’s Falls in Ontario, Canada.
- Specifications
- Design and Architectural Highlights: 12-foot ceilings Floor-to-ceiling lakefront and forest views 1,570 sq ft deck with 14 ft canopy Hot tub, Sauna, Cinema Gym, Pool table, Ping Pong table and Games Kayaks, Paddle boards Dock and loungers, 2 Fire pits Volleyball net and Playground
- Keywords
- Interior design, Cottage design, Canada style, Hospitality, Boathouse
