Nestled in Eastman, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, a large wooded plot was chosen by a young retired couple to host their new home —a place to host family gatherings and enjoy outdoor activities.
The mandate was clear: to design a simple, luminous, and functional house; a building that amplifies the natural beauty of this enchanting site.
The residence unfolds as a long bar, arranged in an L-shape, echoing the site’s natural horizontality. This layout clearly distinguishes programmatic functions: the main wing houses the living spaces, the master bedroom along with its dedicated bathroom, while the guest wing accommodates two dormitory-style bedrooms, a playroom, laundry room, a mechanical room, and storage. Both wings converge at the main entrance, sheltered by an adjacent outdoor carport.
The architectural language translates the building’s organizational clarity into minimalist form, free of ornamentation. A gentled sloped dual-pitched roof stretches across the entire volume, while a restrained palette of materials envelops the structure, inside and out.
The material palette pays homage to the region’s landscapes and their natural elements. Vertical white cedar siding, with its naturally weathered gray tone, references the slender tree trunks and eches the colour of bark, grounding the house in its environment. The slate-gray metal roof evokes the mineral presence of large stones scattered throughout the site.
The entrance is articulated through a deliberate break in the horizontal façade, a gesture that welcomes visitors while offering shelter. This volumetric framing is echoed at the rear, defining an outdoor terrace that connects the living areas to the west-facing yard. Ground-level access to the woods and trails extends the home naturally into the surrounding landscape.
Inside, soft tones and warm textures enhance the diffusion of natural light, ensuring bright, inviting spaces throughout the year. In select areas, exterior cedar siding flows seamlessly into interior walls. Windows are carefully positioned to provide framed views throughout the house, maintaining a continuous visual connection to the landscape.
Generous in size, thoughtful in layout, and minimalist in design, the kitchen was crafted to preserve clean compositional lines while offering practical and ergonomic storage.
Spacious and inviting, the open-plan living area creates a warm environment for gatherings. Varied ceiling heights articulate spatial hierarchies and subtly shape perception: the elevated living room frames views of the backyard, while the more intimate dining area fosters closeness during shared meals.
Through its formal clarity and nuanced materiality, this minimalist residence gently integrates into its surroundings. Poised between a seasonal retreat and gathering place, the G+H Residence offers a luminous and serene sanctuary to fully savor the seasons and landscapes of Eastman.
