By: Nigel F. Maynard
Project: La Villa Luce / Location: Charlevoix, Québec (Canada) / Architect: MXMA Architecture & Design / Location: Westmount, Québec / Photos: Nanne Springer
Nestled in a green setting, La Villa Luce embodies a lifestyle in constant harmony with the sun, the St. Lawrence River and the Charlevoix mountains. The house, designed by MXMA Architecture & Design, uses materials and morphology inspired by the region’s typical houses and represents modernity in harmony with tradition and the surrounding nature, the firm says.
The client for the project wished to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and dreamed of a warm refuge where she could rediscover the open horizons over the water that marked her childhood in Baie-des-Chaleurs, Gaspésie, Canada. This love of the river led her to the village of Cap-à-l’Aigle, a few kilometers from La Malbaie. There, she discovered a promising piece of land on the mountainside within the Teracera real estate development. This entirely wooded plot offered the seclusion she was looking for, as well as optimum sunshine and an uninterrupted view of the St. Lawrence River.
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The architects sited the home towards the rear of the site to distance it from the road and preserve its privacy. As a result, it is invisible from the road. From the parking area near the road, access to the house is via a boardwalk that weaves its way through the curtain of trees. This distills a sense of calm as visitors arrive, and then of delight as they enter the clearing.
On close inspection, the architecture evokes a familiar sight: Its gabled roof, expansive balconies, wood and stone walls are reminiscent of the architectural heritage of Charlevoix.
“The house rises here over two floors, blending natural materials with a contemporary aesthetic,” the firm says in its project statement. “On the ground floor, two large stone walls, arranged longitudinally, appear to emerge from the earth, symbolizing a strong connection to the landscape. Wooden platforms interlock between the stone walls, forming the floors and terraces. Above this solid mineral base, a glazed story adds lightness and transparency, maximizing views and light. A black roof, appearing to float, crowns the structure with elegance.”
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Light plays a central role at Villa Luce, named in tribute to the owner’s Italian heritage. In the language of Leonardo da Vinci, the word Luce means “light.”
Even before sketching the first lines of the project, the architect and the couple spent entire days studying the movement of light across the site. They even set up a platform to find the best vantage points, envision the placement of the rooms and position the openings in a way that would create the best connection with the landscape.
MXMA oriented the house along an east-west axis and designed it to follow the path of the sun. The shared living spaces were placed on the upper floor to fully embrace the panoramic views throughout the day. Bathed in natural light, these spaces feature expansive windows that are optimized for passive solar gains in winter, which helps to reduce heating loads. In summer, wide roof overhangs limit solar exposure.
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Right in the center of the floor is an object dear to the family: a billiard table. Much more than a leisure object, this piece of furniture acts as a pivot around which the social life of the household revolves, in a playful and contemplative atmosphere. It also serves as a link between the kitchen and dining room and, on the other side, the living room and the wood-burning fireplace.
This symmetrical organization of living spaces reinforces the balance and coherence of the space. Each of these rooms offers a different light show. While the kitchen and dining room are draped each morning in the sun rising above the river mist, the living room and foyer are bathed in the last rays of sunlight of the day.
“On either side of the house, two large terraces naturally extend the interior spaces,” the firm says. “Thanks to two French doors and attention to architectural detail–such as integrating the rails into the floor and harmonizing the level of the terrace with that of the house–the transition between inside and outside becomes fluid and natural. The glass railings, whose structure is subtly concealed in the terrace floor, blur the boundaries between the built environment and nature. This design allows occupants to take full advantage of the open air and views, in perfect harmony with the warm atmosphere of the house.”
Because this is an upside down home, the bedrooms are located at ground level, so that their occupants can enjoy the softness of the night and the tranquility of the nearby forest. The spacious first floor entrance opens onto a corridor serving two bedrooms, a living room and the primary suite, allowing the house to accommodate eight people comfortably.
The bedrooms follow one another from east to west to take advantage of the river view and continuous light throughout the day. Each has its own terrace, offering space for privacy and quiet moments. In the parents’ suite, the couple dreamed of a large bath to enjoy quiet moments overlooking the forest. The bath was recessed into the floor and surrounded by full-height glazing to reinforce the connection with nature.
MXMA says the heart of the project is an architectural module: a central volume crosses it from east to west, linking the two side elevations and the two levels. Painted forest green, it acts as the backbone that structures the spaces while evoking a soothing link with the forest. “This module also cleverly conceals the technical areas and service rooms: laundry room, mechanical room, and bathrooms,” the frim says. “It also separates the circulation area to the north, freeing up all the space behind the main façade to the south. On the first floor, this layout gives the three bedrooms and living room the best possible orientation, facing due south. This optimizes natural light, warmth, and energy efficiency, while enhancing occupant comfort and well-being.
From the vestibule, the green module leads visitors up the staircase to spacious living areas. As on the first floor, all equipment and services are cleverly grouped and concealed in this module: kitchen appliances, living room fireplace, pool table storage, powder room, and office space.”
The house’s architectural language is expressed through carefully chosen materials: the stone and wood used on the exterior extend into the interior, blurring the boundaries between spaces. Stone on the first floor evokes a sense of groundedness, while wood on the ceiling and floor adds warmth.
“One of the major design elements is the green module. With its size and soothing shade, as well as its niches and elaborate lighting, it resembles a majestic sculpture. It evokes an allegory of nature, flowing elegantly through the entire house, reinforcing the connection with the surrounding landscape.”
Despite its location in the forest, the home considers sustainability and ecology seriously. Every step in the planning, design, and construction of Villa Luce was marked by a concern for the environment. The deforestation was carried out in a controlled manner to preserve the habitat of local biodiversity, and the use of a slab-on-grade and insulated formwork made it possible to limit excavation and preserve the integrity of the soil and vegetation. Native species were also planted around the building to regenerate the soil and promote biodiversity.
“As for the structure of the prefabricated wooden house, it was built using local materials with a low carbon footprint,” the firm says. “The choice of stone, made from abundant local raw materials within a radius of less than 800 km, minimized the impact of transportation. This decision is in keeping with a sustainable architectural approach, favoring respect for the environment and the use of resources.”
Additionally, because of the house’s orientation, it benefits from the sun’s natural warmth in winter, thanks to large south-facing glass wall. The need for air-conditioning in summer is also greatly reduced by the continuous natural ventilation provided by the strategic positioning of its large patio doors on the east and west sides, and by the natural plant mask provided by the trees kept as close as possible to the house.
The house envelope was designed with high-performance insulation, meeting the requirements of the Novoclimat program, recognized as a standard for new energy-efficient construction. Materials choices–metal roofs, stone and cedar–were chosen to minimize operating and maintenance costs. They also contribute to the house’s durability in the harsh Charlevoix mountain climate.
