Project: La Maraude / Location: Boileau, Canada / Architect: Nathalie Thibodeau Architecte / Location: Montreal / General Contractor: Construction Miric / Photography: Maxime Brouillet
Located in Boileau, Quebec (Canada), La Maraude is a contemporary interpretation of Quebec’s architectural traditions, its designer Nathalie Thibodeau Architecte says. ”The simplicity of its forms, the use of durable materials and its intimate relationship with nature reflect a deep respect for Quebec’s built heritage,” the firm says in a project statement.
The house uses a sustainable approach that is in harmony with its environment but meets contemporary expectations of comfort and functionality. It also celebrates Quebec identity and its close connection to the forest.
[ Read More: A Kite Surfer’s Secluded Retreat on the Georgian Bay ]
Located on a vast site along the Maskinongé River in Outaouais, the design brief calls for a house that integrates seamlessly into the surrounding forest. Rather than positioning the house directly along the river, the architects created an intimate place in dialogue with the forest, as part of a broader vision involving the creation of a network of small, meaningful spaces distributed across the site. Each family member is invited to shape their own personalized place of retreat. Some are already established, others will follow–with the house serving as the base camp.
The design draws inspiration from Quebec vernacular architecture, with simple rectangular geometries, steep gable roofs designed to prevent snow accumulation and a sequence of outbuildings with varying alignments. The exterior materials–natural cedar shingles and a metal roof–echo this heritage. Additionally, the two materials are durable and functional.
[ Read More: Bespoke Millwork Help Shape a New Custom Home in Napa ]
“Designed with particular attention to simplicity, functionality, and respect for traditional codes, La Maraude embodies a successful dialogue between contemporary architecture and local traditions,” the firm says.
The house is made up of three distinct volumes, offering a gradation of privacy and varied connections to the landscape. Pavilion one is the smallest, containing the main entrance and service spaces. It is composed of compact, functional rooms with a focused opening to the exterior at the entry hall. The second, more expansive volume houses the living spaces. Its high ceilings and large glazed openings allow natural light to penetrate deep into the home, creating a sense of transparency throughout the building. “This arrangement establishes a constant visual connection with the forest, allowing the house to breathe, capture seasonal light variations and reinforce the feeling of being immersed in nature,” the firm says.
[ Read More: A 17th Century Amsterdam House Gets a New Interior ]
Along this light-filled axis, a north-facing terrace oriented toward the mountain creates an intimate and sheltered space, while a second terrace to the south opens onto the landscape that faces the river, offering a broad and sunlit setting.
The third pavilion, more secluded and intimate, accommodates the bedrooms. Built over two levels due to the site’s topography, its windows are more modest and carefully placed, framing specific views of the forest and creating ever-changing scenes throughout the seasons.