Construction completion: 2020

Architecture team: Paul Bernier, Claudia Campeau, Luc-Olivier Daigle.

Structural engineer: Alain Mousseau (Calculatec)

General contractor: Construction Léonald Goyette

Press Distribution: v2com

About Paul Bernier architecte

Paul Bernier Architect is a contemporary architecture firm founded in Montreal in 1999.

The firm’s work is characterized by an emphasis on natural light and an inventive and contemporary approach to the treatment of space. They also take great care in the selection and assembly of materials. Attention to detail is at the heart of the firm’s design practice.

This is a look at the house from the vantage of the lake dock and wooden walkway. This showcases more of the tall and thick trees that complement the house exteriors.

This is a closer look at the house exterior showing the large glass walls and black wooden wall of the upper level.

This other angle of the house showcases the warm glow of the glass walls and windows that makes the house stand out against the surrounding foliage of tall trees.

This is a view of the exteriors of the front side of the house featuring tall trees and shrubs that make the glass walls and black exterior walls of the house stand out.

This view of the house showcases the covered porch surrounded by glass walls that bring in natural lighting for the sitting area.

This is a closer look at the exterior walls of the house showing more of the black shiplap wooden structures that support large glass windows.

This is another look at the front of the house. You can see here the glass front door that matches with the large glass window above with the same glow of the main door.

This is a closer look at the corner of the house. You can also see here the stone base of the house with a set of stone steps leading to the main door.

This is interior look at the glass-enclosed porch of the house with an outdoor dining area on the side that has a view of the lake.

This is another view of the covered area with a comfortable sitting area and outdoor dining area brightened by the glass walls.

This is a closer look at the rectangular dining set by the glass door that leads to the interiors of the house.

The rectangular dining table of the outdoor dining area is adorned with a woven wicker rustic lighting cover to its pendant light.

Upon entry of the glass doors of the porch, you are welcomed by this cozy interior that has stone walls, a fireplace and a comfortable cushioned arm chair.

A few steps from the stone fireplace is this elevated area with a breakfast nook to maximize the view of the lake through the glass walls on the far side.

This is a view of the kitchen and the family room in a large great room that has a large stone fireplace in the middle.

The large stone fireplace sits in the middle between the kitchen and family room. These are then complemented by the hardwood flooring and beamed ceiling.

This is a closer look at the family room area with a large U-shaped sectional sofa that pairs well with the beige walls and beamed ceiling.

This is the kitchen with dark wooden cabinetry that is contrasted by the bright beige countertops, walls and beamed wooden ceiling.

This is a closer look at the kitchen island that has a table extension at the edge paired with cushioned beige stools that has ample leg space underneath the table.

This is a closer look at the beige wall above the kitchen cabinetry with a pair of modern wall-mounted lamps and a vent hood that blends with the walls.

A few steps from the dark kitchen island is the staircase with wooden steps to match the hardwood flooring and the walls to match the rest of the house interiors.

Upon entry of the house, you are welcomed by this simple foyer that has a bench on the side. It stands out against the dark hardwood flooring that matches with the main door.

This view showcases more of the small and simple foyer and the large cabinet for crystal and silverware around the corner with a dark set of doors.

This is the view of the rest of the house interiors from the vantage of the simple foyer. You can see here that there is a set of wooden steps that lead to the stairs and kitchen on the far side.

This is a closer look at the staircase that has light wooden steps to match the hardwood flooring contrasted by the dark tone of the kitchen cabinetry.

This is a full view of the staircase along with a glimpse of the foyer adorned by a large potted plant.

This is a closer look at the staircase with a unique and simple floating design to its wooden steps.

This is a closer looka t the bright white coffered ceiling above the staircase landing.

Here you can see the wooden steps of the staircase complemented by the bright beige tone of the walls.

This is a close look at the second-level landing showcasing the wooden steps, white walls and frosted glass panels.

This is a look at the staircase from the vantage of the landing in the middle. You can see the wooden steps, white walls and the abundance of natural lighting.

This is a view of the second-level landing showcasing more of the bright beige wall on the side and the far wall that blends with the door.

This is the second floor halway with a large glas wall on the far side that brings in color and natural lighting for the beige walls and ceiling.

The opposite end of this hallway leads to the bedroom on the far side with a modern black floating fireplace that stands out against the glass wall.

This is the bedroom with a platform bed surrounded by glass walls giving it a unique view of the lake and trees.

The bathroom has a large freestanding bathtub standing by the glass walls at the far end of the modern vanity.

The clients owned this log cabin which has been in the family for 40 years. It is anchored on a rocky point which juts out into the lake.

The project to be carried out was to completely renovate this cottage and expand it to make it an open, fluid, and bright space that takes advantage of the beautiful views overlooking the lake.

The proximity to the shore led the architects to plan the extension on top rather than on the sides. Only the screened porch was added at ground level so there was a challenge there. How to add a floor to this typical small log cabin with its sloping roof without denaturing it and losing its trace? The solution was not to pretend that this addition had always been there. The project had to allow the old and the new to be clearly visible.

Contrast and continuity

This theme is important in the design of this house. It is the meeting of 2 eras: the original log cabin and the contemporary addition. The original cabin is rustic, made of stone and log with its sloping roof with wide overhangs. The addition is a clean and monolithic volume but whose material (wood) and color echo those of the original cottage. The various breaks in the roof slope of the addition also reflect those of the old cabin. There is also, even in the original cottage, a certain mix of styles, with modern elements, such as the slanted windows, characteristic of the period of the 1950s to 1970s.

Inside, this coexistence of styles and periods is also present. The beautiful old massive stone fireplace has been restored and is now visible on all sides, right in the center of the space. The new staircase is light and minimalistic.

It was also important to preserve the cathedral ceiling of the old cottage, even if a floor was to be added above. To do this, the old roof, which was frail, was completely removed and replaced by a Douglas fir structure replicating the slope and supporting the new floor. Outside, the old roof profile of the original cabin is still visible.

Light and views

Adding a story had a significant benefit that the clients and the architect could see during the design process by climbing onto the roof of the old cottage. This promontory offered an exceptional view of the lake and an opening to the sky that did not exist on the ground floor. This observation post has been given to the master bedroom. From their bed, the owners have a breathtaking view of the point with these beautiful tall pines, as well as the lake and the starry night sky.

The addition on the roof also serves to illuminate the ground floor. Through a large vertical opening on the east side, upstairs, the morning light enters inside and filters down to the lower level through the walkway floor made of translucent glass. Thus, the heart of the cottage on the ground floor, which would normally be darker, is illuminated with natural light. A large window at the top of the stairs also acts as a skylight and offers a view of the sky as you go upstairs.

The new screened porch installed on the south side, and fitted with 2 skylights discreetly inserted into the structure, offers another place to enjoy the outdoors in a space bathed in the natural light that reflects on the water.

Materiality

The old cabin is made of logs and sits on a stone foundation. This stone base, anchored on the rock cap from which the site is made, helps to integrate the cabin into its natural environment.

Stone and solid wood are also used in the interior, in tone on tone. The other surfaces are mainly white, thus maximizing the light and highlighting the colors of the surrounding nature.