S-Pace 1628
Stéphane Groleau
Product Spec Sheet

ElementBrandProduct Name
Kitchen CabinetsIKEA
Gypsum board CertainTeed
Metallic coating Mac métal architectural
MasonryPermacon
Faucets Riobel
PaintSherwin-Williams

Product Spec Sheet
Kitchen Cabinets
by IKEA
Gypsum board
Metallic coating
Masonry
Faucets
by Riobel
Paint

S-Pace 1628

1628 inc as Architects

Residence-office near a lake
The S-Pace 1628 project, designed by 1628 and located a few steps from Lake Memphremagog in Magog, was created to house the offices of an architectural firm, as well as to serve as the residence of its leaders. A light, sculptural, and continuous roof unites all the volumes like a plan deposited over the building. This roof gives the project a distinctive and harmonious appearance that is reminiscent of the surrounding hills. The shape of the roof is found inside the building; many of the ceilings take this form, which creates unique spaces.

photo_credit Stéphane Groleau
Stéphane Groleau
photo_credit Stéphane Groleau
Stéphane Groleau

Concept

The objective of the project was to create a harmonious building in which the two main functions will be intertwined and will intersect, while being able to separate and be autonomous. Everything had to fit harmoniously into this particular sector of the Eastern Townships. For the owners, grouping of most of their activities in one place reduces everyday travel to a minimum, while making the most of a very pleasant environment.

photo_credit Stéphane Groleau
Stéphane Groleau
photo_credit Stéphane Groleau
Stéphane Groleau

Volumetry

The building is made up of three main ivory-coloured masonry (offices, residence, and garage) volumes, interconnected by the circulation spaces (main vestibule and staircase), and the hybrid space that is the multipurpose room. The residential volume is surmounted by a sub-volume slightly offset and covered with white metallic cladding. The thin roof is the articulated surface that connects all these volumes. The materials used are pale in color and have a light appearance that blends in well with the surrounding built environment.

photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes
photo_credit 1628
1628

Interior spaces

The interior spaces are divided into flexible zones. The office area is placed near the main entrance, at the north end of the building. The living and private spaces are placed at the other end, away from the professional activities. Without having defined borders, these areas of work and life intertwine and intersect, yet can be separated to be autonomous. Sliding doors and partitions make it possible to transform the spaces according to the desired uses. Many vanishing points created allow the eye to move constantly; the spaces are delimited, but always remain open to the interior and the exterior.

photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes
photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes

The office area is directly accessible from the main vestibule. In this sector, the rooms benefit from generous and open spaces with high articulated ceilings. The windows are concentrated on the west side, providing views of the lake. Patio doors create a direct link with the outdoors, and only screen partitions divide the space. From there, when activities are being held in the multipurpose room, the owners can directly access the residential area without crossing through it.

photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes
photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes

The multipurpose room is the hub of the residence/office. It was designed to host receptions and exhibitions, and also to serve as a meeting room for the firm. It is directly accessible from the entrance vestibule via a pair of 4-meter-high raw steel doors. The room benefits from light coming from the east and opens towards the wooded part of the site. On the west side of the room, two retractable maple partitions can close the link between the space and the living rooms of the residence, making it a very flexible space adaptable to all uses. In addition, the large meeting table is modular and extendable, and can be removed very easily to free up the room.

photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes
photo_credit 1628
1628

The residence is located in the two levels volume, located south of the site. The living rooms are grouped together in a friendly open-plan room on the ground floor. The windows are generous, highlighting views of the lake and the the surrounding panorama. Several patio doors open onto a large covered veranda that borders the south and west sides of the volume. This veranda is literally an extension of the living rooms, with its configuration enabling it to be inhabited in several ways. A fold in the roof partially closes this space on the south side to reduce glare and increase privacy. The second floor includes the master suite and a secondary suite. Again, the rooms are largely fenestrated and enjoy spectacular views. The master suite is located at the south end of the floor and is the most secluded and private place in the house. It opens directly onto a generous balcony on which a summer bed has been built.

photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes
photo_credit Stéphane Groleau
Stéphane Groleau

Environment

Particular attention was paid during the design to obtain a high-performance envelope, an essential element for the harsh climate of the site. The facing and finishing materials used on the exterior and interior are durable and require very little maintenance.

photo_credit 1628
1628
photo_credit Stéphane Groleau
Stéphane Groleau

Structure

The structure of the building, prefabricated in the factory, is made entirely of wood. The designers had to use the latest modeling software to successfully design the whole thing without having to rely on structural steel. Workshop fabrication was probably the only way to make all the pieces of this puzzle with the precision required for such a work.

The S-Pace 1628 project brings together all the required functionalities in a coherent whole that is adapted to the site, where barriers between the interior and the exterior are almost non-existent.

photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes
photo_credit Les Maximes
Les Maximes

Team:

Architecture, interior design and garden design: 1628 inc.

Project team: Annie Charest and François Parenteau

Structure: Usi-Home

Photographers: Les Maximes, Stéphane Groleau

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