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Résidence Baie-Saint-Paul
By : BLH Architectes
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Landscape
Categories : Residential Building / Cottage & Country House : Silver Certification
Categories : Residential Building / Private House > 2 000 pi2 (> 185 m2) : Gold Certification
Celebrating a grandiose landscape
The Résidence Baie-Saint-Paul site is a unique location in Quebec’s Charlevoix region. Mostly wooded, it features a naturally unobstructed rocky promontory that offers a spectacular 180-degree view. This incomparable panorama highlights three completely different majestic landscapes: to the northwest, the mountains and the view of the imposing Massif de Charlevoix; to the northeast, the Baie-Saint-Paul valley and its glimpse of the village heart; to the southeast, the grandiose view of the St. Lawrence River and L’Isle-aux-Coudres. The location of the residence was self-evident, given the position of this vegetation-free belvedere, which naturally directs the gaze towards the immensity of the landscape. Rather than taking advantage of the natural gradient of the cliff to back the building onto it, a less invasive layout was chosen to keep the site as natural as possible. The judicious use of the headland to perch the residence at the very edge of the overhang thus creates cantilevered views giving occupants the impression of being suspended in the emptiness of this grandiose landscape.
A unifying and intimate project
With a floor area of 2,565 square meters, each of the rooms in this sumptuous second home was designed and positioned to highlight the impressive views of this memorable environment. The owners’ wish was to construct two buildings: a main residence and a guest house, to create a gathering place while protecting their privacy. Inspired by this desire, the architectural design proposes two main volumes positioned at either end of the building and linked by a living space that takes the form of an elongated suite of abundantly fenestrated common rooms. Reminiscent of huge skylights, each of the two volumes, entirely glazed, juts out at the edge of the slope, accentuating the promontory effect in the private suites on the second floor, while completely oblivious to the building that supports them. The guest loft, with its balcony overlooking the mountains, and, at the opposite end of the spectrum, the master suite and its spectacular view of the river, give the impression of nests perched on the highest peaks.
Living spaces in the heart of nature
In terms of architectural language, the clients wanted to recreate the warm interior of traditional Quebec homes, but revisited in a contemporary aspect specific to Nordic architecture. The first step was to position the living room to take full advantage of the most spectacular view of the river, where the bench integrated into the fireplace invites contemplation and rest. The simple, elongated shape of the central body and its orientation made it possible to position the openings so as to create transparency on both sides of the building. At the front, a full-length translucent facade, with floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, gives full scope to the panorama, while at the rear, large openings bathe the residence in abundant light. The presence of a vast wooded area on this side provides a protective canopy to limit heat build-up. The orientation of the building and its long, slender form also benefit natural ventilation, while the positioning of the garage, to the west, protects communal spaces from overheating.
In continuity with the living room, a veranda space has been set back without interfering with the view from the living room, where you can enjoy the light and warmth of the south. This three-season space offers a completely different ambience: a kind of warm, intimate shelter in the forest. It was also designed with a view to allowing the house to evolve with the owners’ needs over the years, by designing the space so that it could easily be converted into a bedroom.
The conscious choice to position intimate spaces on the second floor and prioritize living spaces on the first floor favors direct access to the outdoors to maximize outdoor living. On the view side, numerous garden doors communicate with a covered terrace protected from the wind by the overhang of the two vertical volumes. The setting is reminiscent of the gathering galleries of the time, and at nightfall, the distant view of the charming village of Baie-Saint-Paul, illuminated, gives the impression of a postcard.
Materials that reflect their environment
The intention to integrate the building into its natural surroundings in a sober manner, despite its imposing scale, has guided the choice of materials, both exterior and interior, towards simple, noble materials such as natural stone and real wood species. The space nods to traditional Québécois homes with its white oak herringbone wood flooring and white pine panelled ceilings that envelop the spaces in their rich, soft color. The stone fireplace uses the same stone as the exterior cladding and adds rustic warmth to the common spaces. The huge kitchen cabinet, with its exposed cutlery, was inspired by the rustic china cabinets typical of Quebec furnishings of yesteryear. The lighting, like everything else, was chosen with sobriety in mind.
This project pays tribute to the grandiose attributes of the Charlevoix region and the richness of the place. With its elegant sobriety, it celebrates the rusticity of the Quebec landscape in all its splendor, giving the occupants, conscious of being privileged witnesses, the impression of being an integral part of this spectacular panorama.
Collaboration
Project Manager : Christine Lafond
Engineering : Francis Parée, ingénieur
