Could there be a better place to build a home than on the side of a mountain with captivating vistas? While it invites numerous obstacles and greater expense, navigating a rocky geography with the guidance of the right architect can result in nothing less than spectacular!
Such is the case with Les Elfes, which is gracefully perched on the harsh, rocky mountains of the Morin-Heights in Quebec.
At first glance, the exterior of the home appears chaotic and arbitrary. Even the plans (below) comprise a miscellany of zigzags and sharp angles. In reality, what you see is a masterfully executed design solution to the primary challenge Alain Carle Architects faced: contrasting the elemental jagged mountain scenery and site with the construction of a nurturing intimate environment, ensuring a result that both celebrates nature while cradling a domestic refuge.
The plan is divided into separate fragments, each facing a deliberated scenic view to act as a module for observation. The elegance of this concept is mildly reminiscent of an old trick used in English gardens, whereby a window is placed in an ideal spot, purposefully adjacent to a landscape designed entirely for that view. Although the views in question are not man-made, the brilliance of what they capture is simply stunning.
The unique shape of this residence also creates intimate well-scaled outdoor courtyards for the owners to enjoy during the warmer days.
The exterior is covered in stacked stone and toog wood which complements the natural setting.
The rich warm toog wood accents the interior, creating a cohesive indoor/outdoor dialogue.
Les Efles is not only a place of domestic bliss, but an artful example of how the landscape of place can inform the design of a structure.
This sophisticated creative solution embodies the essence of a new contemporary Canadian vernacular we celebrate at canadianrealestatehousingandhome.ca.
Check out Alain Carle Architects for more fantastic architecture!
All Photographs courtesy of Adrien Williams.
Researched and Written by Mikhail Shchupak-Katsman, Undergraduate Environmental Design, OCAD University
