Ingenious construction on Brome Lake

This house facing Brome Lake surprises with its unique architecture made up of pavilions connected by a large circulation space. The owners, who have found a waterfront lot, can enjoy the views to the outside while maintaining privacy for everyone.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSThe house is inspired by the vernacular architecture of the Eastern Townships and Eastern European countries. The result: a timeless, charming and unpretentious style.

The owners have long been attached to the Brome Lake area, where they have family. “There was an existing cottage at the base, but they bought for the land that directly overlooks the water. We proposed a one-level construction to take full advantage of the view, because if we had made an upper floor, the view would have been obstructed by the trees that border the lake,” explain Louis Thellend and Lisa-Marie Fortin, of Thellend Fortin Architects.

The orientation was perfect and the location ideal for building a second home near Montreal. The lot is quite narrow, and in order to have a good surface area for the house, while reducing the impact of the exterior volume, we built several modules. The living area is 3175 ^sq ft, excluding the 620 ^sq ft double garage. The sloping roofs and the multiplicity of buildings provide an unusual geometric rhythm that is very pleasing, both on the exterior and interior of the property.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSETo the left of the entrance, a sliding door opens to the children’s and guests’ pavilion, with the parents’ pavilion a little farther to the right. The bathroom is located on the left, in the extension of the only staircase of the property.

What is interesting is that it creates different environments, even if we are in an open plan.

Louis Thellend, Thellend Fortin Architects

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSArchitects Louis Thellend and Lisa-Marie Fortin of Thellend Fortin Architects designed this unusual modular home.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSThe playroom separates the guest room, right, from the two children’s rooms, left. All the rooms are equipped with barely perceptible storage units made by Stéphan Giroux, of the Senouk Dee woodworking shop, such as those integrated under the staircase.

Flexible functionality

The architects found inspiration in Eastern European houses with an interior courtyard, replaced here by a vestibule that brings each pavilion together. “Each cottage has its own living space: one for the parents, one for the children and guests, one for the common areas and one for the garage and services,” says Lisa-Marie Fortin.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSThe staircase leads to a mezzanine where you can observe the stars. This very quiet space can also be used as a relaxation, exercise or reading room.

The timelessness and warm atmosphere sought by the owners are ensured by the sloping roofs and the materials chosen. “They wanted a lot of white and a lot of windows, which could have created a cold atmosphere. We opted for a warm white, identical on all surfaces, wood and molded brick to add texture,” says^Fortin. Thus, the newly built house is already marked with a certain cachet.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSEThere is a certain continuity in the materiality between the interior and exterior, where each volume is clad in white-painted brick and wood. “We used the same Benjamin Moore Oxford White CC-30 warm white for the walls, built-in furniture and kitchen cabinets,” says Lisa-Marie Fortin. The addition of natural wood furniture and white oak flooring adds a lot of warmth.

The children in the family are still very young, but the wing for them will serve their needs just as well when they are older, since the pavilions can open or close off to the common areas as needed.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSThis house facing Brome Lake surprises with its unique architecture made up of pavilions connected by a large circulation space. Both simple and original, this concept optimizes views to the outside and preserves the privacy of each individual.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSThe homeowner wanted black and white for her kitchen by Cuisines Steam, but she chose wood cabinets so it wouldn’t feel cold. The parents’ “house” is organized behind the storage wall.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSThe show perfectly demonstrates the architects’ desire to play with materials, volumes and shapes. The different levels of the ceiling frame each area well. The architects point out that the owner was very involved in the project in terms of decoration, guided by designer Sylvie Masse, of Zig & Zag Design.

BY EMMANUELLE MOZAYAN-VERSCHAEVE

FROM THE PRESS