Canadian architect Paul Bernier has designed this 3,925 square foot contemporary home located near Bromont, Québec, Canada. Completed in May 2012, the house sits on a 6 acres lot surrounded by woods. The site offers beautiful views of the forest. In winter, when the leaves have fallen, the Appalachian Mountains are visible in the distance. This project, a weekend getaway for a couple living in Montreal, set out to provide a serene, light-filled and timeless space that would be sensitive to its natural setting.
The house is made up of 2 volumes, a day block and a night block. The day block is a U-shaped volume set on a plateau at the top of the outcrop. It houses the shared living spaces, including the kitchen, the dining room, the living room and a reading nook, which is tucked behind the fireplace. The facades on the outside of this U-shape are clad in natural stone and pierced by openings that frame prime views. Floor to ceiling windows line the inside of the U and define a sheltered inner courtyard. The night block, which includes the master bedroom, consists of a 2-storey stone block that extends over the slope. Here, too, openings have been oriented and sized as a function of the vistas and the sun’s path. A generous window wraps around the southeast corner, for instance, to afford a stunning diagonal view over the woods. The veranda is the space between the day block and the night block. It is protected by the roof, which bridges the two sections. Its sheltered dining area provides a beautiful view of the woods and is oriented east to benefit from the morning sun. The veranda has a glazed corridor that creates a feeling of being outdoors, even in winter, when going from the day block to the night block. Awareness of the natural environment is always a part of life inside this home.
Photos by: James Brittain
