LES ROCHERS

LOCATION Magdelen Islands, Quebec ARCHITECT La Shed Architecture PHOTOS Maxime Brouillet

Les Rochers is located on the west point of Havre Aubert Island, the southernmost of the Magdalen Islands, a site with the most beautiful sunsets. With their sculptural silhouettes, the house and guesthouse overlook the territory and offer a contemporary reinterpretation of the Magdalen Islands home. With its two simple volumes clad with cedar shingle façades, the project integrates respectfully with the landscape, echoing the materials and scale of regional vernacular buildings.

A starting point for the design is the traditional gable roof house. Adjusting the geometry, La Shed breaks the proportions and creates asymmetric forms, a playful nod to the houses of the Islands, where the silhouette is thrown out of balance by the tambour—a covered structure often added to the front entrance of local houses. The tambour acts as a depressurizing airlock to protect houses from strong winds, a response to the Islands’ climatic conditions.

In Les Rochers, the two buildings embed the tambour within their volumes, each in their own way. The main house is more upfront about the inspiration of the tambour in its silhouette, whereas the guesthouse includes it completely beneath an extension of the roof. Even if their forms are distinct, the two houses are harmonious. With their variegated profiles, the two buildings echo the rugged cliffs surrounding the Islands.

The interior architecture of the two residences is steeped in the aesthetic of seaside houses. The guesthouse, with its exposed structure, recalls a rustic fishing cabin and has a casual atmosphere. The main house, which is slightly larger, is more refined, and stylish but restrained. Light tones are dominant; the lines are rich and delicate. True to their practice, La Shed is engaged in a dialogue that is intimate and sensitive to its context.

Adjacent the houses, terraces follow the topographic curves of the terrain. These sinuous forms bring to mind the meeting of cliffs and sand. Like the docks that welcome ships, the wood platforms tie together architecture and landscape. The boardwalks that lead to the houses recall those used to cross sand dunes to reach beaches.

Views, orientation, and the dynamics between the two houses guided the site plan. The residences have been placed so as to offer the most beautiful views of the surroundings, while taking care to not compromise the privacy of occupants. The fenestration hints at the breathtaking panoramas seen from within, and reinforces the impression that the buildings are like living paintings.

As with all of La Shed’s projects, the custom design of the architectural elements and a precise and sensitive attention to detail help create a strong, coherent and beautiful project. Striking a balance between charm and simplicity, Les Rochers offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere and spectacular views that enrich the space and those who inhabit it.

:: Jury :: This project underlines the importance of architecture in everyday life; how simple gestures accentuate the many things a living space can have. The design of these two houses reveals the essence of the home in its simplest expression, using a contemporary language imbued with historical symbols.

CAPE LAKE PATH EXISTING HOUSES

GUESTHOUSE

SITE PLAN

0 30M

MAIN HOUSE WORKSHOP

TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT The main house incorporates the form of the local vernacular entrance vestibule within its silhouette; the main house is seen with the guesthouse in the distance; large windows in both houses frame views to the ocean. RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM The interior of the main house has a refined look, while the guesthouse has an exposed structure that evokes a rustic fishing cabin.

CLIENT PRIVATE | ARCHITECT TEAM RENÉE MAILHOT, SÉBASTIEN PARENT, YANNICK LAURIN, DAHLIA MARINIER-DOUCET, SAMUEL GUIMOND, ANTHONY BERGOIN, OLIVIER BÉRARD, CLÉMENT STOLL, KEVYN DUROCHER, ROMY BROSSEAU, PIERRE-ALEXANDRE LEMIEUX, CÉDRIC LANGEVIN, GUILLAUME FOURNIER | BUDGET WITHHELD | OCCUPANCY JUNE 2020