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Bridge House
By : MXMA Architecture & Design
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Models and Renderings : Gold Certification
Categories : Other categories in architecture / Concept & Unbuilt : Silver Certification
The Bridge House truly embodies the harmony between architecture, man and nature, where every design element is imbued with the spirit of its surroundings.
By integrating the surrounding forest as an architectural element in its own right, the relationship with the landscape became the driving force behind the design of a residence that offers the feeling of living in symbiosis with nature.
The brief was simple: the clients, wishing to relocate from Vancouver, chose this site with the desire to fully embrace the rhythm of the seasons in the heart of the forest. They entrusted the architects with the challenge of creating a residence where nature would be omnipresent in their daily lives.
Maria longed for welcoming outdoor spaces that would allow year-round living, in tune with the elements; while David imagined himself next to a warm stone fireplace, surrounded by the enveloping canopy of the forest.
Located on a mountainside on Mont-Joie in Bromont, The Bridge House blends harmoniously into the slope of the land, offering spectacular views of Gale Lake. Facing west to take advantage of the sunset, the chalet itself is a veritable invitation to contemplate nature.
Large windows flood the interior with natural light, inviting the landscape into every corner of the house.
This close relationship with the outdoors continues through a contemporary, organic materiality, where stone and wood intertwine to create a residence rooted in its setting. The Bridge House thus transcends the concept of a simple dwelling to become a veritable sanctuary where man and nature cohabit in perfect symbiosis, offering a living experience in communion with the elements.
AN ORGANIC SUBSTANCE
The symbiosis between architecture and its natural setting is at the heart of this captivating project.
Drawing on the characteristics of the surrounding landscape, where minerality and forest density predominate, MXMA’s architects sought to create an organic materiality that harmonizes perfectly with its surroundings.
This approach is reflected in an architectural composition that evokes a sequence of landscape strata, reflecting the nuances and textures of the terrain.
The choice of a mineral base, evocative of the mountain’s rock formations, topped by a light wood and glazing structure, poetically recalls the surrounding woodland canopy.
The linear morphology of the building, combined with its organic materiality, meticulous siting and surrounding vegetation, allows the project to blend harmoniously into Bromont’s natural landscape.
This thoughtful, environmentally-friendly approach not only offers a striking aesthetic, but also creates an immersive experience where architecture truly becomes a natural extension of its context, inviting residents to connect deeply with the beauty and serenity of their surroundings.
A DELICATE MORPHOLOGY
The elegance of this architecture lies not only in its delicate design, but also in its harmonious integration into the mountain landscape.
The architects have used remarkable ingenuity, drawing inspiration from the construction of wooden bridges to create a house that literally seems to float above the ground.
Precisely following the contours of the slope, the structure naturally follows the curves of the land, preserving the integrity of the site’s topography. Resting delicately on its stone base, the house seems to literally emerge from the ground. This subtle combination of materials and forms creates a feeling of weightlessness, as if the residence were suspended between the trees, offering a unique residential experience where the client’s desire to live in harmony with nature is fully realized.
INSPIRING LIVING SPACES
The imagined residence truly merges with its natural environment in an immersive way. The arrangement of volumes and the assembly of materials help to create a living experience that blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
The outdoor entertaining spaces, carefully arranged in connection with the house, offer an invitation to explore and fully enjoy the natural surroundings. The mineral terraces, like natural extensions of the house, integrate perfectly with the slopes of the land, reinforcing the sense of belonging to the surrounding nature. The two-storey layout creates an interesting dynamic where each space seems to reveal itself progressively, offering an experience of discovery to those who walk through it.
From the bedroom nestled among the trees to the in-ground pool enveloped in lush vegetation, every element has been designed to maximize the interaction between inhabitants and their environment.
As a result, this residence becomes a true component of the mountain, blending harmoniously into its natural landscape while offering unique and inspiring living spaces.
VIBRANT RENDERINGS
Among the vectors used to represent a project, 3D visualization is much more than a simple graphic representation of a project. It’s a gateway to a world where imagination blends intimately with reality.
For this project, it was imperative that the renderings accurately capture the very essence of the desired ambience. Every detail, every play of light, had to be meticulously crafted to evoke the magic inherent in the site and the project itself.
These renderings are not simply static images, but living tableaux that transport the viewer on a sensory journey, where the architects’ creative vision blends harmoniously with the particularities of the site. They are a faithful reflection of the project’s soul, its vision and its potential to transcend the limits of space and time.
A PROJECT FROZEN IN PEOPLE’S MIND
Deeply regretting their inability to realize their dream, the clients were forced to abandon the Bridge House project for personal reasons, forcing them to remain in Vancouver.
Every detail carefully thought out for them, every space imagined to blend harmoniously into the landscape, will remain frozen in images and in the imagination, with the regret of not having been able to see the birth of this piece of architecture that would have embodied their profound desire for a connection with nature.
