Since 2016, Matière Première Architecture and its sister company Nu Drom, a construction firm, have worked in close partnership. Their shared ambition was to find a permanent site that could embody their identity — an identity defined by the seamless integration of design and construction. They acquired a site at the entrance to Magog, a lakeside town in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, where, together with a partner from the woodworking industry, they established an atelier rooted in architecture, craft, and ecology.

Atelier Matière Première – Nu Drom

Nestled within a pine-covered site along Highway 10, the main route linking Montréal to the Eastern Townships, and opening to views of Mount Orford, “Atelier Matière Première – Nu Drom” is conceived not only as an architectural intervention, but as an immersive and tactile experience. The site, once occupied by a roadside family restaurant and small motel, now provides the backdrop for Matière Première and its team to realise a contemporary vision attentive to both nature and cultural heritage.

Two buildings were designed by Matière Première Architecture and constructed simultaneously by Nu Drom: one is dedicated to artisanal production and the other is a contemporary office space that invites public engagement. While focusing here on the office building, both structures were envisioned as part of a unified architectural ensemble, coherent in both materiality and placement.

“Designing here meant first listening — to the land, to the site’s history, and to our own practice,” says Etienne Chaussé, partner and architect at Matière Première Architecture.

Architecture in rhythm with the landscape

The office building, with its pared-back silhouette inspired by vernacular rural architecture, is conceived as an evolving showcase for Matière Première’s creative practice. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite shifting plays of light, ensuring each experience of the space feels distinct. “We wanted the building to live and breathe in rhythm with its surroundings,” explains Marc-Antoine Chrétien, project architect. “Each opening was designed to establish a permanent, almost organic connection with the outdoors.”

The use of untreated white cedar cladding will weather into a silvery patina, echoing the building’s gradual integration with the landscape. This natural evolution is complemented by modular prefinished steel roofing, chosen for its durability, longevity, and recyclability.

Landscape design played a central role in the project. While the site was chosen for its panoramic vistas, much of its untouched character also held great value. To protect this integrity, large portions of the terrain were left in their natural state. To define a clear transition between constructed and unspoiled landscapes, the design team introduced low concrete planters filled with grasses and conifers, alongside carefully placed paving. The goal was to create a visual and sensory buffer that asserts human presence while respecting the ecosystem.

Interior of light, warmth, and flexibility

Inside, the architecture balances openness and intimacy, functionality and atmosphere. A sculptural staircase of folded steel, capped with oak, forms a spatial hinge, linking the more public spaces on the ground floor with the creative studio above.

Exposed beams and fabric-lined millwork enhance the tactile and acoustic experience, adding texture and a sense of calm.

The interior layout is also driven by flexibility. For example, the ground floor, currently used as a showroom, can be easily converted into additional office space as needs evolve, ensuring longevity without unnecessary renovations.

Light and thermal comfort as design drivers

Thermal comfort and daylight performance guided design decisions from the outset. The glazed facades are strategically oriented, helping to regulate indoor temperature while maximising natural light intake. On the southern elevation, the recessed glass wall creates a thermal buffer that limits solar heat gain in summer, while enhancing passive heat in winter. To the west, an exterior timber screen filters the low afternoon sun, providing visual comfort without compromising the connection to the landscape. This harmonious integration of passive strategies helps create spaces that are both comfortable and inspiring. Here, natural light is considered a material in its own right, fundamental to the studio’s architectural approach.

A shared process, a shared place

The design process itself was marked by a spirit of shared authorship. Architects, carpenters, and landscape designers worked in close collaboration throughout all stages of the project, blurring boundaries between disciplines and fostering a deep sense of ownership and pride. The result is a workplace shaped not only by vision, but by the hands and minds of those who now inhabit it. This synergy between concept and craft defines the ethos of Atelier Matière Première – Nu Drom.