When first approaching the creation of this new residence, the site offered very little physical character, apart from the exceptional view towards the Mille-Îles River. Located in Terrebonne, Québec, the shape of the land is the result of the original agricultural divisions. The terrain is slender, flat and devoid of any vegetation, a legacy of its rural past, bordered on one side by St-Charles Road and on the other by the river. The client, a family of four, wanted to settle in this region given its proximity to their place of work. The development of the new residence therefore had to fully integrate the specific character of this type of cadastral land division, transcend its modest features, and highlight the exceptional riverside landscape.

The narrow parcel creates close proximity with the neighboring houses, making it important to not only frame the admirable view of the river, but also to protect the side views. A square plan, on one level, was therefore proposed. Completely open to the river, it is bordered on each side by concrete walls that become the supports of the main structure of the house. The only exception to this planning is the master bedroom and its services that overlook the landscape and add a third dimension to the whole.

A stratum composed of a walnut wood structure is placed above the ground, allowing a completely column-free plan. The massive grid—2.1m square and 60 cm thick—extends over the entire 593 square meters of the house. It is a two-way frame where the wooden elements interact not as main beams and bracing elements, but rather, all of its components contribute equally. Its installation requires temporary supports at each of its junctions so that the elements, once assembled, form an integrated structural mesh.

On the rear façade, the structure rests on a row of slender and elegant H-shaped columns along which unfolds a light glass wall, both fixed and openable, acting as an unobstructed climatic filter towards the magnificent view of the river. Sitting atop, is the volume of the master bedroom, which takes up this same walnut structure and cantilevers towards the river.

The entrance, the garage, the terrace, as well as the children's area, become opportunities to open up sections of the structure to the sky and lighten its contours. Along the approach to the home, large trees will gradually fill these openings with green canopy.

In the front yard, the extension of the concrete walls act like blinders, directing the gaze, sliding below the open framework, and giving way to a green courtyard that offers privacy to the main entrance. The access follows a long walkway towards the heart of the building. This gesture underlines the transparency between the interior and the exterior and allows a visual connection between the agricultural fields at the front and the Mille-Îles River at the back.

Almost entirely covered in black zinc, with the exception of the concrete walls, the residence takes on a unique and abstract character that seems to conceal its domestic function.

On the ground floor, the simple plan is organized around a vast living space. The white steel grid of the library extends all the way through the residence between the two exposed concrete walls and integrates all the functions and services. It links the kitchen, the view towards the main entrance, the access to the children's area, as well as the access to the garage and other services. All of the mechanical and electrical systems have been integrated into this same grid in order to visually limit their impact in the main space.

The white staircase flows down from the upper floor towards this central space to create a light well, and inhabit the heart of the home. It leads to the master bedroom. In addition to the bedroom, there is a boudoir, a large bathroom bathed in natural light and a his and hers wardrobe. A large projecting terrace offers an exceptional view towards the river once again.

Back on the ground floor, the volume of the children's rooms adjoins the main entrance, separating them naturally to ensure privacy. The concrete walls that define this zone are composed of double walls insulated in the center—thus fully assuming their tectonic intention. Moreover, the formwork modules correspond perfectly to the subdivisions of the master structural frame, linking all proportions harmoniously.

A stone-covered fireplace composes the only other interior volume that divides a visually protected space from the main living room containing a polyvalent guest room.

All of the elements—the wooden structure, the concrete walls, the library wall, the fireplace—combine within the frame to define the spatial organization of the house and modulate the different atmospheres by their distinct materiality and according to variations in natural light.

The surface of the land has been gently reworked by adding slight changes in the elevation of the soil, forming soft mounds. New vegetation composed of large mature trees and various plants, shrubs and groundcover will, over time, allow the residence to blend into this new bucolic landscape.

A gentle slope towards the river integrates the swimming pool and spaces for relaxation and games. At last, a long boardwalk reaches out towards the river and leads to a natural beach, the climax of this exceptional landscape.