Spinon House / Architect Jerome Lepage / Canada

The restraint of the structure is intentional. From the outside, the house appears as a low horizontal line that hardly stands out against the landscape. The architectural language is clear and disciplined, emphasizing belief in how simplicity, when properly executed, reveals depth and authenticity.

Photo © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim Brulé

Spatial clarity and central framework

The interior layout is defined by a strict longitudinal organization that divides the house into clearly marked functional zones. The central built-in framework runs throughout the building, serving as both axis and boundary. It houses cupboards, engineering systems, and storage areas, allowing adjacent spaces to remain clean and open.

To the north is an open living area — one bright space that unifies the kitchen, dining room, and living room into a single social area. The glass wall opens fully to the forest, eliminating any barrier between interior and nature. The terrace directly extends the living room space, creating a smooth transition from architecture to wilderness.

The private area to the south is more enclosed and introspective. Two bedrooms, oriented toward a filtered forest view, are separated by compact service areas. The transition from the bright open zone to this peaceful sanctuary is marked by a subtle change in scale and lighting, creating a path from openness to solitude.

Photo © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim Brulé

Material logic and architectural honesty

The Spinon House is an exploration of material modesty. The palette is reduced to the essentials — wood, glass, and metal, each used clearly and with intention. The exposed wooden structure reveals the logic of assembly. Warm interiors balance the cool light filtering through trees, while the exterior finish blends into the bark tones of the surrounding forest.

Each element follows a disciplined modular grid that governs proportions and rhythm. Built-in furniture, windows, and thresholds are precisely aligned, creating a sense of calm and order. This precision, complemented by tactile warmth, creates a minimalist atmosphere that does not feel cold or austere.

Photo © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim Brulé

Eco-friendliness and modesty

The project strategy is based on passive design, not technological excess. Dense forest foliage provides natural shading in summer, while deciduous trees allow plenty of light in winter. Deep overhangs and compact footprint minimize heating and cooling, ensuring comfortable conditions year-round with minimal energy consumption.

Construction was done lightly — without excavation or excessive disruption of the natural environment — preserving the existing ecosystem. Rainwater flows naturally down the slope, and a minimal foundation footprint allows forest soil to breathe.

This quiet sustainability is part of the project's ethics: architecture that coexists with nature through intelligence, not imposition.

Photo © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim BruléPhoto © Maxim Brulé

The essence of the Spinon House

The Spinon House is not a monument, but a meditation. It is architecture reduced to its essence — proportions, light, textures and silence. It reminds us that design does not have to shout to resonate deeply. Through modest means, Jerome Lepage achieves an eternal synthesis of craftsmanship, landscape and contemplation.

It is a lesson in modesty: true luxury lies in restraint, and meaningful architecture emerges when human intention meets the natural rhythm.

Drawings © Jerome LepageDrawings © Jerome LepageDrawings © Jerome LepageDrawings © Jerome LepageDrawings © Jerome Lepage