Discipline : Architecture
Categories :
Public Building / Sports & Leisure Building
: Gold certification
Categories :
Special Award / Architecture + Wood
: Grand Winner
Categories :
Special Award / Architecture + Landscape
: Gold certification
Entrance to the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, Camp Mercier is a bustling gathering place in all seasons, recognized as one of the most important cross-country ski centers in Quebec. Located at an altitude of 783 meters and about 45 minutes from Quebec, it welcomes both outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife observation enthusiasts.
In 2018, studies conducted by Sépaq confirmed that the former reception pavilion had reached the end of its useful life. Anne Carrier Architectes was then commissioned to design a new functional, sustainable, and accessible pavilion, replacing the old forest camp previously used for reception.
The simple volumetry, the low-slope roofs, and the wooden structure recall the spirit of the forest camps of yesteryear. The dark spruce cladding, installed vertically, evokes the stripes of logs. Characterized by a subtle interplay of solids and voids, the cladding modulates the shadows on the façades according to the sun's path.
Large strategic openings maximize natural light input and encourage the synergy of indoor and outdoor activities, highlighting the surrounding landscape. The alternation between dark cladding and lighter openings reinforces the architectural expression of the pavilion, inspired by the contrasts between bark and heartwood. The treatment of surfaces plays an aesthetic as well as functional role by marking the accesses and guiding the path of visitors.
The building's single-level layout promotes universal accessibility while minimizing road noise pollution. The integration of the pavilion into the Laurentian mountain landscape and the efficient organization of the different spaces, divided into three wings around a central core, optimize and streamline circulation and operations. The visitor experience is renewed throughout the year. In the outdoor courtyard, the building itself serves as a windbreak against the prevailing winds, and the orientation of the roofs maximizes sun exposure there.
The new Camp Mercier embodies a balanced vision between tradition and modernity, respecting both the uses, the environment, and the history of the place. Through the simplicity and uniqueness of the architectural language, it fits into a sustainable and identity vision of the legendary place. More than just a reception pavilion, it becomes a meeting and experience place where user comfort and environmental coherence are at the heart of the design.
