House MN

Located in the wooded, mountainous region of the Laurentians, Quebec, the piece of land presented by the clients posed significant challenges from the outset of the project.

Only a small buildable footprint remained once zoning setbacks, environmental factors, and a minimum of privacy from the road were considered.

The starting morphology, a typical rectangular plan with a hip roof, is methodically transformed during the design process through a series of operations.

The volume is split, rotated, and scaled, slowly adapting the program to the site and context.

A fully glazed passage bridges the two volumes, creating a moment of transparency through the house, visible as you approach the main entrance and as you circulate within the house.

The smaller volume contains a generous kitchen opening onto an impressive all-wood structure cantilever protecting a south-facing terrace.

The larger volume makes up the remaining communal program on the ground floor.

The bedrooms and main bathroom are located below, in a walk-out basement partially carved into the hill.

The second floor is used for a spare bedroom and open mezzanine, adding space for play for the couple’s two young children.

The house is clad in local eastern cedar boards and treated with a natural stain to protect and accelerate aging.