La Colombière
YH2
I
nitially built as a small storage space by the first owner who was a lumberman, the shed
was later rearranged into a forest refuge by its next owners. La Colombière (Dovery)
thus represents the completion and third phase of this simple one-storey construction
into a true retreat expanding on three floors.
In an attempt to preserve the surrounding nature, the footprint of the building remained
untouched. This new phase inspired itself from the natural growth of trees. The link of the
tree/house to the soil remains the same while growing vertically and developing an aerial
volume reminiscent of tree canopies.
By following such principles, the extension was done without any trees being cut or heavy
machinery, which could have spoiled the natural environment offered by the forest. Recall-
ing the bark of the tall surrounding conifer, the exterior volume is covered in dark cedar.
La Colombière’s vertiginous interior is a space painted all in white. Materials and structure
of the previous phase are kept and uninterrupted so that the addition acts as an extension
rather than an insertion.
On the ground floor, a simple space with exposed structure offers a direct link between
rooms and towards the forest’s soil. On the upper floors, each room opens into a vast
vertical shaft punctured by an ultra light stairwell, an aerial structure. On the last floor, an
exterior covered terrace acts as white perch from where one can admire the surroundings.
La Colombière is a refuge perched in the forest reminding us of bird huts.
Photo credit: Loukas Yiaco uvakis
Photo credit: Francis Pelletier
60