CASE STUDY
CONTEMPORARY HOME BETWEEN LAKE AND FOREST
Nestled in a site of stunning , natural beauty , this resolutely contemporary residence , “ Between Lake and Forest ”, was designed for its owners to retreat from their busy urban life and unwind in the tranquility of the Laurentian countryside , known for its beautiful lakes , magnificent fall foliage colours , and downhill skiing resorts in the winter .
Perched upon a rocky outcrop overlooking Lac Cupidon in Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs , Quebec , this 3,600 sq . ft . single-family home is situated at the highest point of a densely wooded , four-acre site in the Laurentians , roughly 65 km north of Montreal . The building features a dark , upper volume which rests upon an exposed concrete plinth and is characterized by a majestic entrance portal , large window openings , and two fully glazed projections - the living room and the library - which extend toward the lake and surrounding trees .
All the structural elements on the lakeside of the building were removed from the perimeter , lightening the perception of the building envelope and heightening the connection with the natural surroundings . Strategic structural planning also allowed the living room windows to extend above the ceiling and below the floor level , and have no vertical frames or mullions . The overall effect is a blurring of the line between the interior and exterior .
The building is bisected in its length by the portal and interior staircase , subdividing the house in two and clearly demarcating the boundary between the living spaces and sleeping quarters . This interstitial space also celebrates the principal entrance to the house by taking visitors up a large , concrete staircase to the main floor level , which culminates at a landing with a ten-foot-wide by ten-foot-high glass opening that reveals the first view of the lake through the house . Upon entering the building , residents are greeted by living areas that are fully glazed from left to right and from floor to ceiling , simultaneously providing the sensation of being in the surrounding forest canopy , as well as offering expansive views of the horizon .
With a ceiling clad in light pine and ten feet high , an oversized hallway connects the living areas to the main staircase , three main bedrooms , two bathrooms , and a powder room , and ends at a library which cantilevers out from the main volume into the treetops to bask in the midday sun .
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