Chalet « La petite soeur »

The owners of this house perched on the shore of Lake Ouareau, in Saint-Donat, Quebec, needed more space for their large family.
In order to give this reconstituted family a place where everyone finds their place, ACDF has created an enlargement that takes over the volume of the existing house. The new section preserves the original building and thus pays a fine tribute to the Canadian house, paying homage to the unique landscape it espouses.

The space designed by ACDF is a sleek version of the existing building in the form of an immaculate prism lodged on a concrete base. Beyond the contrast, several conducting wires unite the two volumes. The tin roof and the white wood cladding of the enlargement are inspired by the smooth, shiny bark of the birches that grow on the site, and at the same time recall the ancestral barn's lime painting.

Inside, the open spaces and the abundant fenestration allow an incomparable point of view on the lake. Promoting fluid traffic, the ground floor exploits the richness and simplicity of materials - polished concrete floor, natural wood frame - and revolves around a central object: the home. Thanks to its black slatted furniture, the fireplace invites an enveloping atmosphere and creates a cocoon of comfort in the vast living room. The built-in benches are privacy lairs in the common areas and skilfully hide storage. The family room and its game table invite to appropriate space, for family time both playful and peaceful. On the lower floor, we reach the new bedroom of the owners. Nestled in the cliff, the room takes advantage of the relief created by the escarpment to let in maximum light.

The transition between old and new is done by taking a glass bridge. An oak border frames the view of the existing house and its warm hue blends with that of the original wood. Of a truncated form, the bridge is wide enough to be invested and, suspended over a green flow, it becomes a stop in the landscape. Its axis allows to draw a line between the kitchen of the existing space and the new living room. Even in separate places, family members can see each other and share moments together.

The transformation realized by ACDF combines the charming patina of the building and the pure lines of the enlargement. Private spaces are created within the shared spaces to give this family a spacious living space with human dimensions.

ACDF Architecture

source: v2com press release