designed to accommodate two families and their friends, atelier schwimmer has built a timber chalet on the banks of lac brome in quebec, canada. boasting an idyllic setting amid nature, the elements of the house are organized to maximize the incredible views across the water and to the mountain peaks beyond. 

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

all images © adrien williams

 

 

as well as providing plenty of space, the client also wanted to a home that would become a place for music, cooking, and overall having fun. the program is split over two levels, with the social functions located on the ground floor and the more private bedroom spaces reserved for the upper level. residents and guests access the chalet from the north-east facing elevation, from where they enter into a large open-plan living room leading to a kitchen and dining space.

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

 

 

to create a variety of spatial experiences, atelier schwimmer has pushed and pulled the walls of house. this is expressed in the living space as a soaring double-height volume, which is home to a climbing rope and a huge window that offers breathtaking views over the lake. elsewhere the receding façades create covered outdoor spaces such as a lakeside terrace. large vertical bay windows at the front and rear cut the house in half and provide a ‘visual corridor’ to the outside, inside this divides the second floor level into two areas for the respective families.

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

 

 

these receding volumes also give the exterior a unique character, as the blackened timber cladding gives way to a warm natural color. the overall mass of the house is also designed as a reinterpretation of vernacular chalets, fitting in with the neighboring buildings from the 1950s while also adding a contemporary touch. 

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

charred timber and receding volumes define atelier schwimmer's lakeside chalet in quebec designboom

 

 

project info:

 

project type: residential

location: lac-brome, quebec, canada 

architecture firm: atelier schwimmer

team: felix schwimmer, francesca fiaschi

engineer: yannick pelletier, AGC group

project manager: guillaume dumas

manufacturer: dunfab

photography: adrien williams