architecture49 stacks two off-center volumes into 'le littoral' holiday residence in canada

montreal-based architecture49 has stacked two volumes into ‘le littoral’, a holiday residence in the region of charlevoix, situated on the north shore of canada‘s saint lawrence river. discreetly inserted into its surroundings, the minimalist home frames great views of the river and natural landscape. its form is developed as a contemporary interpretation of the region’s farm buildings, with two off-center volumes leaning on the gentle slope of the site.all images by stéphane brügger

architecture49 developed ‘le littoral’ for a a couple passionate about gastronomy, who asked for a pied-à-terre in charlevoix that could double as a high-end tourist home. ‘charlevoix is known for the majesty of its views: the st. lawrence river meets the sea, the mountains of the hautes gorges skirt fertile plains, under a sky that plays the role of a moving painting,’ notes the montreal-based studio. the project blends into this environment by deconstructing and reworking the silhouette of the region’s farm buildings.

the plan of the minimalist residence follows that of the land, all in length, and is laid out in a precise axis, chosen to offer a view of the river in front, and intimacy thanks to the forest at the back. a special effort was made to minimize the impact on the land, woodcutting, and landscaping, so as to envelop the building in a natural setting while enhancing the view towards the st. lawrence river and la malbaie bay. thus, the cottage is built high up, leaning on the gentle slope and without a basement, as this would have required extensive excavation.

the two stacked volumes, their openings, and interior rooms are optimally positioned to minimize energy consumption in both summer and winter, and maximize the intimacy of its occupants while allowing natural light inside. the project is developed using using local resources, businesses, and artisans. the building combines a skeleton assembled a few kilometers from the house using locally produced wood, with eastern cedar and pine, also produced in the region.

to make ‘the littoral’ an ideal meeting place and resort, architecture49 created a sleek and functional environment, full of discreetly integrated facilities. a swimming pool, sauna, fireplace, and spa contribute to the comfort and relaxation of its occupants. the kitchen, which occupies a major space upstairs, is equipped with a multitude of professional tools for amateur chefs and gastronomes.