A timber-clad holiday residence near Lac Notre-Dame, Quebec, by RobitailleCurtis forms a strong connection with its mountainside site.
Perched high above Lac Notre-Dame in the picturesque Laurentian Mountains, north of Montréal, Chalet Papillon is a four-bedroom holiday residence designed by RobitailleCurtis. Sited on a steep, densely wooded site, the two-storey structure comprises a long, slender volume positioned at an angle to the site boundary, and an adjacent, perpendicular entrance volume that connects to the parking area and driveway.
This arrangement permits views of the lake from two of the elevations, and for a balcony on the east side of the building to extend out more than 25 metres above the water. Pre-weathered cedar cladding was chosen to match the grey tones of the surrounding trees, while a standing-seam metal roof continues the colour palette, creating a unified aesthetic.
A long band of glazing along the south-west facade provides a panoramic vista of the lake during the winter months. Bespoke plywood seating runs below the window, creating an area to gaze out at the landscape, and linking the kitchen peninsula to the home’s hearth in the living room. On the opposite north facade, tall picture windows frame views of the trees and bring in additional daylight over the staircase and down to the lower level.
Inside, the material palette comprises white plastered walls, concrete floors, and pale timber ceilings and joinery. The open-plan living spaces are located on the upper floor, along with the master bedroom, which is positioned at the rear of the main volume. At night, a pair of thin, linear luminaires evenly illuminates the living area’s timber ceiling, providing a sense of warmth and comfort.
The lower floor accommodates three bedrooms, a bathroom, ancillary spaces, and a playroom. Laid out in a row, each of the compact bedrooms incorporates a large window, and a wardrobe/storage space accessed from the corridor.
Both levels of the house have access to covered, screened porches, facilitating outdoor dining and relaxation in all weathers. Conceived as extensions of the living spaces, the terraces help the building connect to the surrounding landscape. The lower porch leads on to path that snakes down through the trees, eventually reaching the water’s edge.
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