A New Wood-Clad Vacation Home in the Forest

Projects

A New Wood-Clad Vacation Home in the Forest

Project: The Orford House / Location: Orford (Québec) Canada / Architect: Thellend Fortin Architectes / Location: Montreal, Québec / Photographer: Charles Lanteigne

The Orford House is a single-family custom home in the heart of Québec’s Eastern Townships, directly adjacent to Parc National du Mont-Orford. Neighboring a few disparate residential buildings, it is immersed in mountainous terrain where maple and fir trees stretch as far as the eye can see.

The couple had owned the land for more than five years when they called on Thellend Fortin Architectes to build their second home. At the time, an old building occupied the site but was no longer suitable for the family’s needs. However, the parents and children remained attached to this corner of paradise, so they decided to demolish the old place and to build a new one.

But like most custom homes, construction was not straightforward, requiring a variety of iterations from the first discussions to ensure the project meets the client’s needs: a home where family and friends can get together as close to nature as possible.

Starting from the concept that everything is already present on the site and that nothing needs to be added, the architects faced several challenges during the design process–determining an architectural style blending the clients’ traditional vision with the rational lines of contemporary architecture, creating a link between the raised ground and the roadway below and preserving family privacy from the nearest neighbors, while ensuring maximum connection to the distant landscape.

“A comprehensive work was carried out on the three components of architecture, interior design and landscape in order to define a coherent language, combining the ‘warm and chic’ atmosphere desired by the owners, and the functional approach of contemporary architecture,” the firm says. “Double-sloped roofs, wood cladding and metal cladding assimilated to zinc take up the codes of vernacular vocabulary in reference to the province’s built heritage.”

The architects designed the home as a simple geometric form that is animated by a play of solids and voids, projections and recesses, alternating more protected and more open areas. “The dominant verticality is emphasized by the rhythm of the wooden slats and facade openings, and counterbalanced by a series of horizontal gestures–notably the projection of the canopies and perimeter gallery. Combined with these elements, the tight railings of the guardrails lift the gaze towards the distant landscape,” the firm’s project statement says.

Thellend Fortin exploited the site’s topography to design a promenade winding gently between the trees. It leads from the public road onto private land to serve the residence and its garden pavilion (including summer lounge and outdoor pool), before rising to surround the main building. The clients’ desire for a “majestic” entrance on the lower floor is reflected in the double height of the reception hall combined with a passageway under the overhanging terrace, marking the contrast between outside and inside.

The garden level anchors the house, welcoming occupants into a confined space where rooms are partitioned. The first floor is the most free and uncluttered with views on all sides, while the top floor features bedrooms that are served by a mezzanine overlooking the dining room. “A sculptural metal staircase links the three floors in a single fluid movement, evoking that of a folded sheet of paper,” the architect says. “The diagonal it draws, unique within the project, makes it a highlight of the user’s spatial experience.”

Specific finishes subtly support the contrast between interior and exterior using a summary palette of materials. On the exterior, metal panels, wood cladding and concrete slabs present a raw appearance and matte finish. Inside, reflective surfaces such as waxed concrete, varnished millwork, polished marble and glass walls maximize natural light. Sober, light hues, from white to shades of gray, combine with the natural warmth of oak floors, ceilings and window frames.

“The majority of furnishings, such as worktops and storage units, are integrated into the architectural project, with a constant concern for coherence and simplicity,” the project statement says. “Technical elements such as heating and lighting are concealed behind wall coverings and false ceilings, the former combined with an underfloor heating system.”

The environmental approach favors logical and rational solutions, in keeping with the spirit of the project and its context. Locating the new building on the foundations of the old one ensures minimal impact on the site. The conservation of existing elements is put at the service of the project, the landscaping enriched by the presence of mature trees, and the topography put to contribution in the sequencing of spaces. The building’s compactness maximizes energy gains, despite its large surface area.