Résidence
Cap-St-Martin

New construction Residential2019

The Cap St-Martin residence is located at the end of a long, winding road in Potton, in the Eastern Townships. Most neighboring lots feature isolated secondary residences separated by mixed forest and facing Lake Memphremagog. The residence is situated on a plateau surrounded by a wooded mound to the west and a steep slope to the east. The descent from Cap St-Martin is steep, but a staircase provides access down to the lake.

Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes

The clients are a family with two grown children. They are nature enthusiasts who enjoy boating on the lake and skiing at Owl’s Head, and they seek to escape the city for tranquility. He works intensely in the city, while she spends a significant amount of time at the new house practicing her art, painting. They come together for weekends and vacations.

  • Photographe : Adrien Williams
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
From the first meeting, the clients expressed their attraction to the "barnhouse" style, an architectural influence referring to the long agricultural buildings of the region. They desired a secondary residence that is warm and open to nature. The design thus evolved towards a simple, elongated traditional form, distinguished by a contemporary reinterpretation of the barn. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
As you approach, two familiar silhouettes with gabled roofs come into view. The smaller volume in the foreground houses a guest loft, the garage, and the client’s studio, where the artist practices painting. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
This section of the residence is connected to the main volume by a glass tunnel, a gentle transition flooded with light. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The length of the residence revealed as one walks through contrasts with the view of a compact house noticed upon arrival. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The design of the heart of this home stems from the clients' desire for a spacious, light-filled "great room" oriented towards the lake. This central room, which contains the living areas, is striking. Its two long glass facades offer a contrast between the view of the forest and the view of the lake. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The residence is designed as a gathering place. The kitchen extends into a secondary service area that connects directly with the covered terrace. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The room is naturally lit throughout the day, creating a feeling of being outdoors. The extension of the concrete floor onto the terrace enhances this sense of transparency. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The cathedral ceiling covered in wood softens the space. A walkway on the west side crosses the room and leads to the bedrooms. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Upstairs, the master bedroom has its own terrace with a breathtaking view. ↓
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Résidence Cap-St-Martin by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Outside, the dark wood cladding and metal roofing echo agricultural buildings. The canopies on either side of the residence extend and connect the two volumes, reinforcing the building’s linearity. The semi-covered terrace marks the transition between the landscape and the constructed space. The clean lines and refined treatment of the façades promote integration into the natural and built landscape of the region. ↓