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Le Grand Bercail

By : L. McComber – architecture vivante

GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition

Discipline : Interior Design

Categories : Residence / Cottage & Country House : Bronze Certification

November 2021. Architects visit the luxurious rental homes on this spectacular cape above La Malbaie in Charlevoix. Teracea’s homes are bursting with creativity. Guided by a passion for the region and for architecture, the owners decided to acquire a double lot. Their plan: to build two vacation homes designed to accommodate their extended family and tenants.

The owners are confident. The firm has already transformed their post-war single-family home in Montreal’s Cité Jardin. Fascinated by the combination of vernacular and contemporary architecture, they wanted their new project to be inspired by the Charlevoix region. The term « vernacular » refers to the harmony of houses with their immediate environment, but also with their inhabitants. It takes into account lifestyles, uses and stands the test of time.

With its main services and most rooms accessible on one level from the access road, the house can accommodate people with reduced mobility. From the parking lot to the terrace, from the kitchen to the veranda, the obstacle-free path offers full inclusion. Designed to accommodate several families under one roof, the space is organized around a festive heart forming a double-height open onto the living room and the landscape. At the far end, the kitchen offers an all-encompassing view of the living space. The living room is nestled between a warm clay brick wall forming an acoustic barrier on the bedroom side, and a glazed wooden partition on the dining room side. Secluded to better celebrate, seated guests enjoy the double view of La Malbaie to the right and the River in front. The walkway leads to the veranda, gallery and spa, all adjoined by treetops and the blue depths of the horizon.

The bedrooms grouped in two two-room clusters (master and bunk beds) are in a separate wing whose solid wood door improves soundproofing near the entrance. The living room is served by a sumptuous Douglas fir staircase opening onto a mezzanine, a sort of extra den for fun. The mezzanine gives access to a bedroom-study hidden away in the attic, offering a timeless retreat. In the center of the gable wall, an impressive eight-foot-diameter oculus filters the cold light of the River and bathes much of the interior. Accessible from an enclosed staircase near the entrance, the garden level offers a paradise for the youngest with its small dormitory and play area opening onto the woodland.

From terra cotta floors to solid wood shelves and furniture, from clay brick to Laurentian granite to porcelain, each interior finish has been meticulously selected to develop a beautiful patina over time. The house, with its tectonics strongly rooted in the Charlevoix aesthetic takes on a touch of modernity through the contemporary lines of its interior design and bespoke furnishings.

Although dedicated to rental, the residence remains warm with its natural materials and welcoming color palette. The visual and sensory experience is soothing, offering luminous variations of the River, from misty landscapes to sunsets. Both in terms of construction techniques and quality of finish, the house benefits from the expertise of passionate local craftsmen: carpenters, joiners, tilers and seamstresses have all contributed to the elegance of this project. The woodwork, omnipresent both inside and out, lends a natural, authentic warmth to the whole. Despite its recent construction, the house gives the impression of having always been part of this magnificent corner of the country.

Collaboration

Architect : L. McComber

Photographer : Ulysse Lemerise & OSA Images

General Contractor : Demonfort

General Contractor : Art Évolution inc

Engineering : Poincarré ing.

Other : expertise Bernard Miller

Manufacturer - Distributor : Maibec

Manufacturer - Distributor : Olympia tile

Manufacturer - Distributor : Neufenster

Manufacturer - Distributor : Granite au sommet

Lighting : Luminaires Authentik