In the municipality of Sutton, belonging to the province of Quebec, Canada, and located close to three streams that intersect in a large wooded area, the house by _naturehumaine seeks, through a unique morphology, to unite the clients with the lush surroundings to make it their permanent home and conceive it as a peaceful and rejuvenating environment.

The location of the project allows, together with another series of parameters that constitute the subsequent configuration, to integrate the house into its context while highlighting it. Located on a level of the garden that provides full access to the land and that allows the different programs it houses to be structured into three, the project represents the reconciliation of the built environment with an interesting landscaping work.

Benefiting the client from an exceptional entrance, _naturehumaine proposes access to the interior of the house through a covered passage between the garage-workshop on one side and the sloping land on the other, which allows the visitor to be led to closely appreciate the different construction details of the work, and to conceive the interior of the project as another element of the landscape.

The project results in a space of sober materiality that invites relaxation and contemplation of the surrounding nature while allowing a dialogue with the characteristic buildings of the area, as a nod, by its red color, to the old barns of the region to which it belongs and configuring the different interior environments in a linear way, responding to the geometry of the site using a contemporary architectural language.

M3R by _naturehumaine. Photograph by Raphaël Thibodeau.

M3R by _naturehumaine. Photograph by Raphaël Thibodeau.

Project description by _naturehumaine

The three streams house (M3R) project is in the Eastern Townships Forest, in the municipality of Sutton. The house is positioned near three magnificent creeks that crisscross on this wooded lot of more than five acres. It is this unique morphological characteristic that encourages clients to choose this site for their permanent home.

Several parameters dictated the design of this red wood clad house, starting with the client's wish to position the construction on a slope descending from a low angle on the crossing of the 3 streams. This location made possible to embed a garden level which gives full access to the vegetated land near the watercourses.

Thus, the project is structured into three programmatic components: the living spaces on the ground floor, the carport/workshop and the spaces for guests on the garden level. The client wanted to benefit from an exceptional entrance, highlighting the remarkable site of the project. Thus, access to the house is made along a covered passage between the carport/workshop on one side and the sloping ground on the other, thus reconciling the built environment with the landscaping work. Approaching the building, the visitor is led to closely appreciate the constructive details such as the vertical cladding of wood painted scarlet red and punctuated by a set of vertical and interspersed sticks. The choice of color for the project is also a nod to the old bridges covered in wood and the old barns of the Eastern Townships region which were often painted in this color nicknamed “red cedar”.

M3R by _naturehumaine. Photograph by Raphaël Thibodeau.
M3R by _naturehumaine. Photograph by Raphaël Thibodeau.

In the house, a comfortable vestibule provides access via a linear passage to the master quarters as well as the living spaces. The spacious master bedroom includes a meditation space with a glass corner offering an overlooking view of the 3 streams. A walk-in closet was placed back, so as not to visually clutter the space. The main bathroom invites contemplation, thanks to a built-in bath along a large window facing the forest.

The living spaces, which are rather sober in their materiality, encourage relaxation and contemplation of the surrounding nature. The built-in white oak furniture, the polished concrete floor, as well as the wooden cladding on the ceiling frame the visual breakthroughs over the leafy landscape. A largely glazed access in the corner provides access to a generous terrace overlooking the three streams. On the garden level, a studio for guests has been set up, as well as a massage room giving access to a small discreet terrace.

At the foot of the three streams, a winding, vegetated path winds its way through a slight escarpment to the threshold of the house. Residents can thus benefit from both the benefits of fresh water and the sweet sounds that result from it. The three streams house (M3R) becomes a calm and rejuvenating living environment for the couple who have taken up residence there. This timeless residence with rustic materials is part of the vernacular architecture of the Estrie region while deploying a contemporary architectural language.

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Architects
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Collaborators
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Ingénieur structure.- Geniex.
Ébénisterie.- Jussaume.

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Contractor
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Dates
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2024.

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Location
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Sutton, Quebec, Canada.

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Manufacturers
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Painted steel cladding.– Mac Métal serie 1.
Cladding.-Maibec.
Aluminium windows and patio doors.- Fabelta.
Exterior staircase and railing.- Atelier Bourges.
Bathroom taps.- Ramacieri Soligo.
Kitchen cladding.– AGT.
Quartz kitchen and bathroom countertop.- Caesarstone.
Paint.- Benjamin Moore.

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Photography
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Stéphane Rasselet graduated from McGill University's school of Architecture in 1990. After working on major projects in offices in Paris, Stéphane returned to Montreal to gain local experience at Dan Hanganu Architects, The Arcop Group, and Lapointe Magne et associés. His experience comprised largely of the conception and realization of large-scale rehabilitation of existing buildings such as L'Institut d'hôtellerie du Quebec (ITHQ) and the ‘Théatre Espace Libre’.

In 2004, Stéphane joined forces with Marc-André Plasse to founded _naturehumane architects. Within the first two years of the practice, they had been finalists in two major competitions: The Cistercian Abbey in Oka, and the Theater in Dolbeau Quebec.

The firm distinguishes itself by the quality and originality of its residential, commercial, and cultural work, and has won numerous awards including prizes from the Order of Architects of Quebec and the ‘Grands Prix du Design’. Stéphane became the principal partner in 2013.
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Published on: November 5, 2024
Cite: "Integrate and enhance. M3R by _naturehumaine" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/integrate-and-enhance-m3r-naturehumaine> ISSN 1139-6415
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