Residence chemin de la Montée Boisclair
The Montée Boisclair residence proposes the construction of a new single-family home in the municipality of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts in the province of Quebec, Canada. Construction, which will be completed by the end of 2023, is the result of a multi-year collaboration between the clients and the architect.
In 2018, the initial design began with a renovation of a traditional Quebec-style house composed of timber-framed logs with a gabled metal roof, located a few kilometers from the current site. The plan was to expand and renovate this vacation home for the Montreal family to create a suitable and spacious gathering place for family and friends. The structure, which was difficult to transform for the renovation, and the cramped site led the clients to abandon the project. They wanted to find a perfect, pleasant, and spacious site to settle down full-time in the Laurentians and also enjoy it as long as possible in their retirement.
They acquired the current site a few years later, also including a traditional Quebec-style residence composed of wooden logs with a gable roof typical of the surrounding area. Work began on a renovation project to update and expand the existing structure. The quality of the existing construction and its proximity to riparian areas and easements limited and complicated the work. The project was once again abandoned, unable to meet the initial program.
The generous site, originally composed of two lots, was redivided into two lots, allowing for the construction of a new residence as part of a complex of buildings and facilities with distinct functions: market gardening (greenhouse, garden, chicken coop, etc.), hobbies (woodworking workshop, mechanical garage, etc.), and summer and winter sports.
The new residential volumes are located on a new section of the lot with reduced constraints, consisting primarily of mature forest, including an abandoned maple grove, and a clearing area. The contemporary residence, evoking elements of Quebec architecture from the Laurentian region, is located at the southern end of the cleared section of the site to take advantage of the enveloping aspect of the forested area to the south and the view of the Laurentians to the north.
The project is divided into three distinct volumes. The main residence is spread primarily over one level, facing the Laurentian landscape to the north. The programmatic intention is to create a residence that allows residents to enjoy it for as long as possible. The living spaces, the master suite, and a guest suite are located on the ground floor. Level 2, located in the hollowed-out roof space, is primarily dedicated to the double-height open-plan living area. It includes a generous workspace and a guest suite. The basement houses a double garage, a bedroom, a living area, and utility areas: mechanical work, storage, etc. The second volume is occupied by a second garage housing a woodworking workshop, also enjoying a view of the clearing and the Laurentian Mountains. A third volume houses the mechanical work area, featuring a dual-energy wood-burning furnace that heats the other two buildings (heat recovery and glycol floors). A wood-burning fireplace with very low particle emissions (EPA Standard Phase 02) supplements the heating of the main building. The three volumes are arranged in a staircase so that each one does not obstruct the view of the next.
The new constructions offer continuity with the surrounding buildings. The current typology consists of a pale wood volume placed on a concrete base topped by a gable metal roof, sheltering a partial second level. The project reinterprets the elements of the adjacent buildings in a contemporary style. The simple, lightweight volumes unfold beneath a roof formed by a light, thin fold to integrate indoor, semi-outdoor (veranda), and outdoor (terraces) living spaces. The generous roof overhangs, inspired by the surrounding built environment, adapted to the region's generous snowfall, are also present in the proposal to create a transition between the interior and exterior for users accessing the building at ground level.
The simple materiality of the proposed project also includes references to the region's buildings. The use of light, local, sustainable, and simple materials is recommended. The vertical white-painted wood cladding matches the winter canvas. The natural anodized aluminum metal roof, resembling a batten roof, reflects the surrounding landscape, the seasons, the times of day, and the varied weather conditions. The bright white interior continues under the roof and the metal structure of the veranda and in the soffit in the same painted wood plank finish as the vertical exterior cladding. This simplicity of the minimal material palette continues for the interior finishes. The top of the concrete base transforms into a heated concrete floor. Volumes of red oak are placed, inserted, and encase the structure between the levels to create the cabinetry for the various interior spaces. These form the kitchen, hall storage, bedroom storage, and bathroom storage. A curved wooden staircase covered in plaster accentuates the vertical circulation. Floating, dancing steps of oiled white oak unfold between the levels and transform into a wooden floor on level 2. A 25mm x 25mm white mosaic tile surrounds the walls of all the bathrooms, creating continuity and consistency in ambiance and materiality between the wet areas on each level. Stainless steel plumbing and countertops complement the palette of materials, highlighting the residents' colorful, retro rooms.
The space for the main users is generously laid out on the ground floor to accommodate future adaptations as the space ages (generously wide doors, open showers with no threshold, wall-hung sink, removable kitchen that can be modified, etc.).
The clients were extensively involved in the construction process, as they lived in the adjacent existing residence during the construction. Working with the contractor, they ensured that every detail and element planned during the design process was meticulously executed. This deep involvement created a sense of ownership of the project and a deep appreciation for each element from design to completion.
The original residence on the lot now accommodates the client's mother. The new project has created the effect of a micro-community on the site between different generations, allowing for generous and frequent family and friendly gatherings, while fostering a sense of privacy and independence for each long-term user. Text description by the architects.
Source: www.durandcourchesne.com
Structural engineer: Ma-th - Solution d’ingénierie / @ma.th.inc
General Contractor: Construction AuMax
