Architecture49 led the creation of a high-end tourist home with a minimalist design, inspired by the nature surrounding the region of Charlevoix, Quebec, which is popular for its landscapes: the St. Lawrence River meets the sea, the mountains of the Hautes Gorges border fertile plains.
Le Littoral blends into this environment by deconstructing and reworking the silhouette of typical local farm buildings, making it a decidedly contemporary yet traditional luxury tourist residence.
Architecture49 has created an elegant and functional environment, full of discreetly integrated facilities. A swimming pool, sauna, fireplace and spa contribute to the comfort and relaxation of its occupants. The kitchen occupies an important space on the upper floor, equipped with a multitude of professional tools for amateur cooks and gastronomes.
The sense of comfort and calm that the owners wanted is reflected in the choice of neutral colours, limited to black, white and wood, with linear finishes and off-centre volumes, simple and minimal.
Inserting a decidedly contemporary house into an imposing natural environment was a challenge, but it also created the interest of the project itself. A special effort was made to minimise the impact on the land, wood cutting and landscaping, so as to envelop the residence in a natural environment, while enhancing the majestic view towards the St. Lawrence River and the bay of La Malbaie. To emphasise this positioning, the cottage was built high up on the natural slope and without a basement.
The strong connection with the place is also highlighted in the choice of materials, which come mainly from local resources and craftsmen.
One example is the building’s skeleton, assembled a few kilometres from the house using locally produced FSC-certified wood.
Or the use of oriental cedar and pine, produced in the region.
The kitchen countertop is made of Québec granite, the roof is made of contemporary sheet metal, the chimney has a high ecological performance, the swimming pool and even the home automation are produced by Québec companies, demonstrating the province’s know-how and technology.
Info a49montreal.com
PROJECT Le Littoral
ARCHITECT A49
DESIGNER AND PROJECT MANAGER Viviane Zhang
CLIENT Charlevoixchalets.com
STRUCTURAL EINGENEERING SBSA
BUILDING MECHANICS Habitat Refrigeration
GENERAL CONTRACTOR Habitat Ecoconstruction
LOCATION La Malbaie, Québec
YEAR 2020
PHOTO Stéphane Brügger
