Press Release
Burk Residence Cottage Interior Design by Nargiza Usmanova Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Nargiza Usmanova acknowledged 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 20, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category for Burk Residence Cottage Interior Design by Nargiza Usmanova, designed for Mezza Studio. The award was conferred within the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
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.
Regarding Burk Residence Cottage Interior Design
Burk Residence is a private cottage interior design created for a lakefront site in Ontario, Canada. The single-storey retreat contains eight bedrooms and six bathrooms, with twelve-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the forest and the lake. Timber construction and premium finishes support year-round use in a remote setting. A large deck with a canopy, a sauna, a gym and a cinema extend the living areas. The layout guides guests smoothly between quiet rooms, wellness spaces and outdoor gathering areas.
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
This recognition makes Nargiza Usmanova a winner of 10 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/180736
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/180736
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!180736
- 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
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Burk Residence Cottage Interior Design
- Function
- Cottage Interior Design
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Gray, Rosy Brown, Light Gray, Dark Slate Gray and Sienna
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Mezza Studio
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Nargiza Usmanova
- Country
- Canada
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #180736
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer Maxim Zinchuk, Burk's Falls Cottage, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The private cottage, an architect-designed lakefront retreat, features an eight-bedroom layout crafted with premium materials and contemporary detailing. Expansive glazing frames the surrounding forest and water, while the structure's integration with the landscape ensures privacy, comfort, and functionality throughout the year. The design emphasizes spatial clarity, natural light, and a refined connection to its environment.
- 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 masterpiece 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 8 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms 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, Private house
