In Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures Near Quebec City, This Home Grounds Itself on the Riverbank
Bourgeois / Lechasseur architects took inspiration from beached riverboats and angular rocks to bring life to this site.
For this house on the banks of the St. Lawrence, ships floating along the river were the main inspiration for Bourgeois / Lechasseur Architects when they were tasked with replacing an existing summer cottage cantilevered above the water. The small spit of land juts into the river and is flanked by two sandy beaches, providing panoramic views over the water.
When they visited the site in the early stages of planning, the architects were enamoured with the existing building and chose to incorporate it into the new structure, which took its design cues from nautical grounding: beaching boats in shallow water. By raising the old cottage and replacing the pillars it stood on, they were able to further protect it from fluctuating water levels. The protruding, angular pavilions that make up the new home hint at the bows of boats that have been grounded along the shore.
These pavilions and their angular geometry were also informed by the site’s geography. While there is a seemingly large area to work with, the rising water level of the tidal river and the protected shoreline hemmed in the boundaries considerably, leading the architects to the home’s unusual shape. The main living areas are contained within the original cottage, and floating walkways connect the pavilions, linking all the areas of the home.
A central courtyard contains a swimming pool and is angled to block occupants from the prevailing wind whilst still providing the all-important views of the river. Flanking the living area is an eastern pavilion with the master bedroom angled to catch the rising sun, while the western pavilion has a second bedroom looking out over a small bay.
The interiors are simple but connected to the setting, with cedar panels in the new areas and the original white-painted wood in the cottage. The cedar blends with the exterior cladding, a darker shade that more easily sets the home into the surrounding nature.
By breaking up the house into these distinct pavilions, the architects were able to maintain the impression from ground level that a small cottage occupies the site, while viewed from above, the true scope of the project becomes clear.
