The Break Residence is an ode to hospitality, generosity, comfort, and everything that entails good living.
Built on the shore of Lake Revdor in Quebec’s Laurentians region, the Break Residence reveals different faces depending on the reference point of its discovery, the water or the ground. Encapsulating the idea of “home,” this luxurious residence fulfils a man’s wish to build his final dwelling on the land of his ancestors. Opening itself up over three levels, this spacious home serves as a place of welcome and gathering for a small community formed by the few neighbouring houses.
A House with Two Faces
The ambitious program, combined with a particularly narrow lot, required the construction of a new house in place of an existing one. On the street side, the residence has several interlocking volumes that resemble a series of rocks. The sloping topography reveals only two levels from the street, hiding the garden level that provides access to the lake on the opposite side. The sculptural main entrance lies under a double-story canopy, chiselled between the rock-like volumes to create a warm and inviting environment that serves as the heart of the home. The openings expose the circulation and gathering spaces of the residence, emphasizing the conviviality of the place.
On the lake side, the residence exhibits a completely different personality – open and extroverted. With its amplified roof overhangs and angled soffits with golden accents that reflect the ripples and movement of the lake below, the house seemingly spreads its sails into the wind.
Raw Materials Serving Its Beauty
As one enters the house, calm and comfort prevail. Bathed in light throughout the day and wide open to the lake, the residence exudes a distinguished and contemplative character. The mineral nature of the selected materials within the interior architecture contributes to this sense of serenity.
At the heart of the residence, a stone wall stands like a mast, acting as an anchoring element for the house. Part space separator, part unifying architectural core, it accommodates three fireplaces and connects three different levels. Present both inside and outside, this wall adopts the same language as the soffits, seamlessly transposing the interior and exterior character. These fluid and graceful gestures provide coherence and strength to the project.
Each material has been thoughtfully and carefully selected. The expressive veining of the quartzite, with lines evoking the colour of water, the texture of the slate, the warmth of the oak and maple furniture, the maple flooring, and the western Canadian hemlock ceiling combine to create timeless architecture. The patina of both stone and wood forms the base on which the house stands, matures, and gains beauty over time.
Here, space and luxury are in service of hospitality. Accessible by an elevator, each level includes a service area, a coffee station, and a bar. Every room has its own bathroom and balcony. The residence is punctuated with small, contemplative lounges and boudoirs where one can relax and enjoy the serenity of the spaces and their breathtaking views.
Like the rock onto which one drops an anchor, the Break Residence stands as an ode to hospitality, generosity, comfort, and the beauty of nature in all its elements.
Photo Courtesy: Ulysse Lemerise Bouchard
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