La Tierce House by Atelier BOOM-TOWN in Canada

Project: La Tierce House
Architects: Atelier BOOM-TOWN
Location: Canada
Year: 2023
Photography: Raphaël Thibodeau

La Tierce House by Atelier BOOM-TOWN

Elegant and gracefully positioned at the edge of pristine Lake Laurentian, 'Serenity by the Shore' is a home that harmonizes with nature through architectural innovation. Built on a slope, this house consists of three distinct volumes, each adorned with cedar boards that echo traditional rural architecture. What truly sets this dwelling apart is its relationship with the surrounding environment. It offers panoramic views of the calm lake, intimate forest glimpses, and dramatic perspectives over rocky cliffs.

Inside 'Serenity by the Shore', spaces flow seamlessly into one another, fostering a deep connection with the natural setting. Geothermal wells and careful attention to thermal losses highlight the home's commitment to sustainability. This house demonstrates a balance between human habitation and nature, showcasing the art of living harmoniously in an enchanting natural environment.

Using a plot at the edge of Lake Laurentian, this house is firmly integrated into the slope. The arrangement of its volumes creates varied interactions with the landscape, offering panoramic and steeply descending views over the lake, interesting tree perspectives, forests or rocky outcrops. It serves as a true vantage point of its surroundings, providing both general and detailed views. The three main volumes each with a classical typology and dormer roof contain the primary architectural program, reminiscent of past rural buildings. Like these structures, they are clad in weathered cedar boards.

The roof of the spaces connecting this volumetric composition is flat. Its construction from laminated timber is exposed, forming spatial paths of movement and circulation. From here, through motion, connections are established with the site along east-west, north-south axes and from the rocky outcrop to the sky through nearby cedar foliage. In this space of place perception, multiple orientations and diverse viewpoints are offered. These voids expand into a panoramic terrace to the south and a balcony to the west, allowing residents access to outdoor spaces adjacent to living areas on the upper level, thus enriching their spatial experience and strengthening their connection with the immediate environment.

Two of the volumes project over the slope toward the lake below. Protected spaces beneath them contain outdoor terraces on a natural level, offering yet another new experience in harmony with nature. Despite the dense vegetation covering these spaces, the presence of the lake is felt through shimmering and rustling water filtering through trees. The house maintains a close bond with its surroundings. It gently grows from the landscape through cliffs and trees, while internal space is defined by this landscape.

The project realizes itself in the modesty of its volumetric solution, architectural elements and material choices. It prioritizes user well-being through an intimate and varied connection with nature and the project's environment. Socially and ecologically, values are embodied in a system of ten geothermal wells to supply heating and cooling systems. Its orientation, along with the expansion of certain roof sections, allows for controlling solar heat effects. Despite its large area, energy consumption will be modest. Local products and materials are used, including for wall cladding and laminated timber.

–Atelier BOOM-TOWN