Maison
Tête de Violon

New construction Residential2021

The project is located on the seaside, at L’Étang-des-Caps, in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The site is naturally situated on a barely elevated knoll, with a slight offset from the neighboring houses, following a scattered layout, as has been done on the Archipelago since the first settlers.

Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes

Designed for an intellectual client, retired and living alone, this house is, in a way, a sensitive response to the expressed needs. It is a soft and soothing place, both protective and open to the landscape. A retreat conducive to reading and mental escape, from which one can observe the changing seasons and the passage of time.

  • Photographe: Adrien Williams
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The project emerges as an ode to the traditional architecture that adorns the landscape of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, but with a breath of contemporaneity in the setting. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
It is important to consider that the site is subject to rather strict regulations for an area classified as a 'scenic corridor.' This regulation aims to preserve the picturesque landscapes of the archipelago and to maintain views of the sea. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The house recalls certain saltworks both in its shape and in its cladding of walls and roof with cedar shingles. A large porch wraps around the house on three sides, another traditional detail. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Perhaps the most striking element of the project is the protective screen that surrounds the large porch. It represents a beautiful opportunity to subtly reinterpret an important detail of traditional architecture. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Many houses in the Îles are adorned with corbeaux, a carved wooden element. One of the most popular motifs is a fiddlehead, an edible plant that grows well in the Îles. For the project, the idea is to multiply this motif and cut it out through a sheet of aluminum. For the client, this architectural element also evokes decorative lace, which certainly adds a feminine touch to the project. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The space opens up to a cathedral ceiling, and cedar slats cover the ceiling. The living room chairs are constantly moved to get closer to the fireplace or to follow a ray of sunshine. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Les planches de cèdre ont été légèrement blanchies pour ne pas trop contraster avec le blanc des murs. Il était important de conserver le côté texturé et chaleureux de ce matériau. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
On the upper level, there is the master bedroom with its bathroom. It is modest, but the gabled shape of its ceiling and the window that allows for a view of the sea at head height while lying down provide a comforting uniqueness. ↓
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Maison Tête de Violon by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
One of the main challenges for the architects in this local intervention was achieving social acceptance. The use of subtle references to elements that are part of the collective memory certainly helps the community to relate to and appreciate this thoughtfully designed new construction. ↓