The Saint-Gabriel in the Woods house is located in Saint-Gabriel, Canada. Designer Clairoux crafted the 2023 project to offer a peaceful and harmonious place where the family can thrive. The contemporary architecture is seamlessly integrated with the surrounding forest, emphasizing ecological responsibility and local sourcing. It features tailored family spaces, including a screened porch and skylit upper floor.
This unique project combines simplicity, authenticity, and environmental respect, adapting to the specific needs of its occupants. The goal is to offer a peaceful and harmonious place where the family can thrive, sheltered from external stressors.
Designed for a large family, the home provides perfectly tailored spaces for various daily activities. Direct access from the exterior to the basement, complete with mudrooms for outdoor activities, showcases a practical and functional design suitable for all seasons. Every detail of the interior flow has been thoughtfully planned to maximize functionality and bring nature into every living space. At the end of the ground floor, a spacious screened porch spans the width of the house, serving as a three-season extension and allowing residents to enjoy the outdoors while staying protected.
This home stands out for its clean design and seamless integration with nature. A true retreat for the family, it is delicately placed on a rock, surrounded by a dense forest, creating perfect harmony with the natural environment. The project emphasizes ecological responsibility and local sourcing: the pine flooring, exterior wood siding, beams, and paneling were all sourced from Revêtement de bois inc. in Mandeville.
The windows were made by Vitrerie Lafortune in Joliette, allowing for unobstructed views of the surrounding nature and maximizing natural light through strategically placed openings. The monochromatic interior revolves around a precise selection of wood species, while the kitchen, made with birch veneer, was crafted by La boîte à bois Ébénisterie in Saint-Jean-de-Matha. The polished concrete floors of the ground floor and basement were produced by Béton SM in Saint-Gabriel, reinforcing the continuity of materials between the interior and exterior. All these collaborators were selected for their shared commitment to environmental stewardship and their use of local resources.
A significant structural challenge was masterfully addressed through a main beam and a load-transfer system running the length of the house, allowing for large openings toward the forest side near the porch. The continuity of materials between the inside and outside creates a harmonious dialogue between the spaces. The central core of the house, symbolizing a tree, ensures technical efficiency by concentrating the plumbing and electrical needs, while centralizing the staircase that connects the basement to the second floor. An integrated library enhances this central volume while serving a dual structural purpose for the staircase.
Thanks to skylights, the upper floor is bathed in natural light, offering an ideal environment for the children’s workspace. A hidden room dedicated to remote work provides a tranquil space away from family activity. Each child has their individual space, while a shared basement area is dedicated to music and leisure. The ground floor invites family gatherings in a space designed for effortless communion and enthusiasm.
This home embodies the perfect harmony between contemporary architecture and an ever-present natural environment. The firm’s vision was to create a sanctuary where each family member can flourish in a peaceful and serene place, sheltered from external stressors. This project not only reflects a deep respect for nature but also a strong commitment to sustainability and the use of local resources.
