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The Shefford House
By : MXMA Architecture & Design et Catlin Stothers Design
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture : Grand Winner
Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Landscape : Gold Certification
Categories : Residential Building / Cottage & Country House : Gold Certification
Categories : Residential Building / Private House > 2 000 pi2 (> 185 m2) : Gold Certification
The Shefford House: A model of architecture and interior design integrated with nature.
MXMA Architecture & Design and Catlin Stothers Design, two Montreal-based firms distinguished for creating unique and inspiring experiences through architecture and interior design, are proud to unveil Maison Shefford, a family retreat fully integrated into the natural environment of Mont-Shefford, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Designed specifically for a family with young children, the home offers the perfect balance between modern living and immersion in nature.
Mont-Shefford: a place where vision becomes reality
In search of an ideal location in the Eastern Townships region, customers explored five sites with architect Maxime Moreau before choosing the summit of Mont-Shefford. The property offers panoramic views over vast wooded expanses and the charming town of Bromont. The site’s dense forest offered immense potential for realizing the clients’ vision of a residence that embodied the idea of a resort where visiting family and friends would feel welcome, while preserving precious privacy. Modern, comfortable facilities were an imperative, and their use had to be part of an immersive experience in the heart of nature.
Annaliese, the owner, shares her vision: « My childhood memories are woven with the feeling of running barefoot in the grass and savoring the joy of the pool. The freedom-infused culture of New Zealand, where you always live close to the beach or pool, has profoundly influenced my perspective. The creation of our home was guided by the desire for it to merge harmoniously with the landscape, providing green spaces for children to play and allowing everyone to enjoy a year-round wellness experience. »
MXMA set out to realize its clients’ vision by subtly opening up the landscape through the selective removal of trees in a limited area. This approach, combining the desire to create panoramic views with bioclimatic considerations, enabled a harmonious interaction between the architecture and the natural environment, while preserving the tree canopy near the house. Once the site was cleared, the firm worked to optimally orient the house to ensure unobstructed views, efficient lighting schemes, ideal protection from the natural elements, and above all, harmonious integration with the site’s natural environment.
The house’s thoughtful orientation also takes advantage of local climatic conditions, maximizing energy efficiency and thermal comfort. The north-facing main façade features a protected entrance minimizing wind exposure, while the living spaces, suites and terraces are cleverly positioned to the south and west. This strategic layout makes full use of natural light and promotes natural ventilation throughout the house, creating an optimal interior environment.
Designing above obstacles
The first challenge encountered when designing the house was the discovery of an imposing bedrock in the center of the excavation area. Faced with a depth deficit of up to 6 feet, the architect took the decision to raise the first floor level and refine the project plan by designing a series of transitional volumes rising from the height of the bedrock plateau and descending according to the natural variations of the terrain. Each volume of the house, including the terraces and green roofs, offers a unique experience while ensuring a fluid and transparent connection between the main structure of the house and its outdoor relaxation spaces.
The topography of the terrain was enhanced by the architect’s decision to materialize the base of the house with local stone, anchoring the residence in the mountain and allowing it to rise perennially above the bedrock. This choice ensures the continuity and coherence of the house with its environment over time. On the garden level, the house houses a spacious games room, two guest suites and an exit leading to a covered terrace featuring a fireplace, spa, spacious pool and sauna discreetly nestled among the trees below. Strategic openings have been made in the stone volume to ensure a natural, seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Entering a world of perspectives and light
Maison Shefford is conceived as a succession of strata, where architecture, interior design and landscape merge to create a harmoniously arranged overall composition, fitting in perfectly with the surrounding trees and natural setting.
« We were influenced by the couple’s lifestyle with two young children and their love of entertaining, while also considering their future life stages, » explains Catlin Stothers. « We wanted the house to evolve with them and nature. »
Inside, every room and circulation in the house opens up to the outside thanks to full-height windows that frame the landscapes like a work of art, while promoting natural through-ventilation.
As you enter the house, the vestibule opens majestically onto an imposing two-storey window at the rear of the house. This design has been meticulously thought out to establish, right from the entrance, a visual and immersive connection with nature while making optimal use of the beneficial contribution of natural light. A floating glass staircase ensures that the gaze directed towards the landscape is not interrupted, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
« As soon as you walk through the front door, the outside vistas are exploited thanks to the glass walls and oversized sliding doors, » emphasizes the architect. « They offer direct access, both visual and physical, to the natural environment.
To the left, the vestibule opens onto the home’s central living space, revealing a vast open layout comprising a living room, dining room, kitchen and wine cellar. Elevated, this volume resembles a treehouse, offering panoramic mountain views and total immersion in the lush canopy.
The master suite as a private retreat
While the communal living spaces are set in an open plan, different zones have been created in the house so that all who inhabit it can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature. On the right-hand side, the master suite is nestled in its own private world, opening onto a secluded terrace that offers stunning mountain views and direct access to the pool. This private wing allows the couple to enjoy quiet moments while reconnecting with nature.
The natural balance of materials
The relaxed comfort of the interior flows through large French windows into a spacious outdoor living area that includes a fireplace, dining room and kitchen. These spaces are sheltered from the elements all year round, and benefit from solar protection provided by green roofs, complemented by motorized shutters built into the ceiling. This configuration regulates solar gain in the house, preventing overheating in summer. The transparent connection with the outside is accentuated by the continuity of the white oak parquet flooring used inside, extending seamlessly throughout the exterior spaces. Glass railings, meticulously integrated into the structure of the terrace, offer maximum transparency, allowing the landscape to offer itself fully while ensuring the family’s safety.
On the stone wall that envelops the main living space emerges a wooden volume that seems to float, as if the house were transitioning to the canopy of the surrounding forest. Within this framework, a second floor of private, comfortable spaces includes the two children’s bedrooms and a secondary suite. Each of the bedrooms is visually linked to the canopy by green roofs, which evolve with nature as the seasons change. These green roofs transcend their aesthetic role by incorporating rainwater harvesting systems, thus contributing to the responsible management of water resources. Exterior landscaping is also meticulously designed to promote water conservation, adding an ecological and sustainable dimension to this residence. In addition to improving the home’s thermal insulation and interior comfort for occupants, the green roofs play an essential role in reducing the environmental footprint, promoting biodiversity around the home.
Inspired by a natural palette, the home’s exterior and interior materials sport a refined neutrality, embodying sustainability without superfluity. An intrinsic balance is evident between the anthracite stone of the exterior, the matte black metal and wood cladding, and the warm finishes of the interior. These materials were carefully selected for their natural textures, with the aim of creating a coherent, natural link between interior and exterior spaces. Their selection was geared towards sustainability, local availability and environmental certifications, promoting a respectful practice of the act of building.
Fenix Black was chosen as the main material for all interior joinery, with an elegant matte finish that contrasts beautifully with the warmth of the natural wood elements and the organic patterns of the porcelain tiles installed throughout the residence.
« All materials were selected for their inherent natural textures and their relationship with the outdoor environment. It was important to the clients that the interiors be modern and minimalist, yet comfortable, welcoming and pleasant to live in, » Catlin explains.
Both in terms of architecture and interior design, Maison Shefford integrates masterfully with the natural elements of its surroundings, thanks to thoughtful connections and skillful transitions between inside and outside at every turn.
The Maison Shefford: an ode to nature and architectural excellence
The end result of Maison Shefford goes beyond the boundaries of traditional architecture to become an artistic and sensory experience. Each layer of this architectural work, nestled among the trees, offers total immersion in its environment. Inspired by the couple’s New Zealand memories, the house embodies an authentic communion with its natural setting. It tangibly represents the couple’s aspiration to live in a place where the interior merges harmoniously with the exterior.
MXMA architects and designer Catlin Stothers have succeeded in creating a sanctuary where every detail is meticulously thought out to amaze. Carefully designed indoor and outdoor spaces offer moments of enchantment, where natural light, striking panoramas and privacy converge to create an atmosphere conducive to relaxation and contemplation. Maison Shefford transcends mere residential status to become an immersive experience, a true ode to nature.
Collaboration
