Residential
Award of Merit, Canadian Architect, 2013

Laid out on a single level, the house is in constant dialogue with the horizontal landscape of the Eastern Townships. The absence of a dominant viewpoint in this open horizon is reflected in the deliberate lack of hierarchy between the facades and their surroundings. The irregular floor plan creates a constantly shifting perception depending on the observer’s position. Uncertain of their exact needs, the clients expressed a desire for an open layout while also seeking a degree of separation between functions. The design addresses this tension by exploring the typological concept of the enfilade. The rooms are arranged sequentially, one flowing into the next. This sequence is then folded back onto itself, transforming the enfilade into a continuous loop. The sense of fluidity is enhanced by the multiple sightlines through the courtyard, which acts as a neutral buffer space, unplanted and in contrast to the untouched natural landscape beyond.