A new house at Charlebois Lake by Paul Bernier
12/07/2018.
[Québec] Canada
metalocus, ANA MENÉNDEZ
metalocus, ANA MENÉNDEZ
Description of project by Paul Bernier
On a wooded lot on the shore of Charlebois Lake, the clients wanted to build a contemporary house, luminous and open to the nature. They wanted most of the spaces of the house to be level with the land.
The terrain is slightly sloping. During a first visit to the site, a perimeter was established to identify the ideal location. The privileged view towards the lake and the south coincide, which guided the orientation of the building. The “L” shape plan.
The “L” shape plan
An “L” shape plan was chosen for the house. In the “L” plan, a wing is reserved for the day spaces (kitchen, dining room, living room) and the other wing houses the more private spaces (master bedroom, bathroom, washing). This type of plan allows all the spaces to be oriented towards the south and towards the desired view. In this house, one is always close to the windows.
The “L” plan also defines a sunny outside space, hidden from the view of the neighbour and open towards the access to the lake. Besides, it is also in this space that was laid out a screened porch to enjoy the summer evenings. The two-storey volume.
The two-storey volume
At the meeting point of the 2 wings of the “L”, was created a two-story volume. On the ground floor there is a garage and the upstairs houses a guest bedroom and an office which enjoys a strategic position overlooking the lake and also with a view down to the ground floor. On the outside, this two-storey volume is clearly distinguished from the “L” shape volume by its materiality. It is covered with Corten steel (weathering steel) which has already taken its orange colour, while the volume in “L” on one floor is sided with black dyed cedar.
Inside, too, this distinction is felt by a double-height space between the 2-storey volume and the one-storey space. A staircase with cantilevered steps made of walnut allows access to the upper floor.
Paul Bernier has been practicing as an architect since 1991. He started working within Montreal agencies and elsewhere in Canada. He established his own practice in 1999.
Paul Bernier’s work is characterised by a play on space and light, and by the great care given to the choice of materials and to methods of assembly. He developed this sensitivity to architectural details, not to multiply them, but to reduce them to the bare essential and to control their execution. He gives great importance to the relationship with the client, to understanding whom the client is and what this person’s needs are, so that the project, though issued of a creative process will resemble the inhabitant.
Paul Bernier also designs furniture, and does research on architecture in parallel to his practice.