Résidence
KL
At our first meeting, the clients talked about simplicity and openness to the wooded area. They want a house that “looks like a house.” Their archetypes are rather traditional in nature; they like the seaside homes of the East Coast, those that stand like “lighthouses” and are resistant to storms. These houses that seem to lift up to catch a glimpse of the horizon.
From the initial discussions, there was an openness to contemporary design and boldness, although the clients were determined to retain the traditional rural spirit of the early villas in the North Hatley area. This duality between tradition and modernity guided us throughout the design process.
Upon approach, the residence asserts a strong presence while offering a traditional appearance through its scale and volume. However, a subtle manipulation of form disrupts this simplicity.
The upper floor, cantilevered, extends to cover the porch and terrace, providing protection against summer overheating in the extensively glazed rooms on the ground floor. As one moves through the site, the cedar volume seems to gently lift, allowing dialogue between the interior and the exterior. It evokes an image of a vessel spilling out from a river bend and coming to rest on the site. The residence thus sits on the mountainside, as if the slide had stopped just before the precipice. The ground floor literally opens up to the wooded area, while the upper floor appears to float above.
In response to the clients’ desire, the KL residence indeed “looks like a house”… but it stands out, in its simplicity, through a contemporary reinterpretation of the early vacation homes in the region. It also brings a charming maritime feel, far from the Atlantic.
- Clients : A young couple with a baby, buying their first home. They are nature lovers, sports enthusiasts, and furniture aficionados. They are health professionals, friendly, and open-minded.
- Photographe : Adrien Williams
