It is in the heart of a mixed forest of birches and conifers, in Québec’s Lanaudière, that La Croisée was built, a country home for two brothers and their family. L’Abri accompanied the owners in their first self-construction. A collaboration thoughtful of its carbon footprint, nestling itself with respect and modesty within the territory.
Under its sober charred siding, the residence blends into the dense woods and minimizes its site footprint with its rather compact layout resting on stilts foundation. The screw piles, the gable roof and the columns of the protected terrace reinforce the slender character of the house and give it a feeling of grandeur despite a modest area of 1100 square feet.
The two volumes that compose La Croisée, as its name suggests, cross over each other, offering a dialogue between traditional architecture with a pitched roof and more contemporary orthogonal shaped architecture. The overlapping of the two volumes generates reveals and coverings which create the two exterior terraces. Like nature in constant evolution, the face of the house changes according to the angles and the profile of the two volumes.
An optimized program that gives room to views
The architects have worked to optimize the spaces to propose a plan that reduces its resource footprint, without compromising on the program. This reflection on the rightful use of raw materials guided the project, from the transformation of the trees from the land into construction wood, to the artisanal craft by the owners of the burnt wood cladding the house.
The day areas occupy the lower volume. The bright surfaces contrast with the anthracite body of the building and reflect the light for soft and warm interiors. The openings are generous and pierce the three facades of the living room, offering a panoramic view of the forest by the river. The simplicity of the architecture leaves room to abundant nature.
Upstairs, the two bedrooms with cathedral ceilings are spacious and comfortable. They give views of the roof terrace where you come to enjoy the sunshine at the end of the day and the sunsets that blend between the trees. Overlooking the river, this open-plan observatory is a place of interest to experience the seasons, its colors and its smells.
Construction on stilts
As part of a self-construction project, the use of screw piles gave greater autonomy to clients who were able to weld themselves the metal frame on which the house rests. At a time when there is a shortage of concrete, pile foundations have been a great alternative, saving time and money, while maintaining a good carbon footprint. Finally, unlike concrete foundations which destroy roots around the construction, pile foundation keeps the trees only a few feet from the building, placing the house in the heart of the woods.
This project demonstrates the expertise of L'Abri in offering a collaborative approach that combines design and construction qualities. As part of a self-construction project, La Croisée gives meaning to the value of the architect and his sensitivity to create living spaces where aesthetics, functionality and respect for resources and nature take precedence.
