The Des Lauriers House, designed by Paul Bernier Architecte, is set in a hilly, partially wooded rural setting adjacent to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park.
Adopting a configuration typical in this region, the house is composed of three gabled volumes, resting in an open field with views of the mountain and the equestrian park. The layout reflects a characteristic typology of rural building clusters and delimits protected outdoor spaces.
Two of these volumes - the main house and the garage/guest house - are built of brick and stone. The third pavilion is a small, cedar-clad barn. These simple traditional shapes, combined with natural materials and a contemporary reinterpretation, lend the house an impression of timelessness.
The stone walls, which act as retaining walls and extend from the house's foundations out into the landscape, also help to anchor the house in its environment.
The house and garage volumes are connected by a fully glazed link, emphasizing the distinct nature of each building. This glass box serves as the main entrance. As you approach it, you can see the plain beyond the house.
The west end of the garage pavilion opens onto the landscape, housing an outdoor kitchen and dining area - an alcove surrounded by massive brick walls and pillars, and sheltered by a high, cedar-clad cathedral ceiling. A large, west-facing opening offers views towards the mountain and the sunset. On the south side, a brick claustra filters natural light, while also providing privacy. A small slot, up high in the thick brick wall, allows heat to escape during summer.
From the glazed entrance hall, the living area is accessed via a chicane created by a wooden volume that acts as a screen. One then discovers the heart of the house, a large space that extends upwards, taking advantage of the entire volume of the house's gabled structure. Horizontal openings frame views of the landscape and provide access to nearby outdoor areas. A band of white oak panels covers the perimeter walls, while integrating storage, windows, and a stone niche for the fireplace. Above, the vaulted ceiling is covered with lime plaster.
The kitchen, set back, yet open to the living room, is simple and minimalist. Its white oak cabinetry delimits the space where an island made of stone sits. From the kitchen island, while cooking, one can enjoy a wide view of the plain and the mountain. Another large window above the counter lets in the morning light and offers a view of the woods.
A passage leads from the living room to two bedrooms, including the master suite, secluded and quiet, facing an unobstructed view of the equestrian park.
From this hallway, a staircase connects the home’s three levels. The stairwell is illuminated by a large dormer at the top. Floating wooden steps allow natural light to flow through each level all the way to the basement. Upstairs, there is an exercise room and an office overlooking the living room and the surrounding landscape. The basement, benefiting from the slope of the land, has west and north-facing windows for three bedrooms and a family room.
On the opposite end of the house, accessed through the entrance hall, are the outdoor kitchen and dining area, garage, and a guest suite above the garage.
The materials used inside - white oak, lime plaster, and stone - are timeless, but the clean lines and minimalist approach are contemporary. The exterior of the house is made of brick, stone, steel, and cedar. Both inside and out, the materials are natural and durable. The deep openings, the massive masonry pillars, as well as the stone walls and window frames, give the whole a feeling of stability and perenniality.
"We aimed to imbue this house with a sense of calm, a peaceful and contemplative atmosphere, as this is what we felt upon discovering the site for the first time," says Paul Bernier.
Team:
Architects: Paul Bernier Architecte
Design team : Paul Bernier, Patrice Lebel, Noémie Robitaille
Structural engineer : Alain Mousseau (Calculatec)
Contractor : Constructions Boivin
Photographer : James Brittain
