G+B Residence by DESK architectes
G+B Residence sits in Eastman, Canada, where DESK architectes translates a wooded plot into a luminous vacation house for a recently retired couple and their family. The long, low volume organizes everyday life around an L-shaped plan that meets the site at ground level, giving direct access to trails and the west-facing yard. Inside, soft tones, precise openings, and a restrained palette keep the house calm yet generous in use.
Low cedar siding runs parallel to the tree line as the house stretches across the clearing, its dual-pitched roof held just above the ground. Afternoon light moves along the long façade, catching the gentle break at the entrance before sliding toward the west-facing yard.
This vacation house in Eastman, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, is conceived by DESK architectes as a simple, functional retreat for a retired couple and their extended family. The L-shaped volume gathers daily life on one level and keeps every room close to the woods. Interior choices focus on calm color, warm texture, and clear views, so the couple can live with the landscape rather than just look at it.
Grounded L-Shaped Plan
The house reads as a long bar that bends gently to form an L, clarifying how the household moves between quiet routines and larger gatherings. One wing holds the primary living rooms and the main bedroom with its bathroom, keeping the couple’s day-to-day life compact and easy. The other wing turns outward as a guest zone with two dormitory-style bedrooms, a playroom, laundry, mechanical room, and storage, ready for visits without crowding the core. Both arms meet at a single, legible entrance, sheltered by an outdoor carport that folds arrival, parking, and access into one grounded threshold.
Cedar, Metal, And Landscape
Vertical white cedar siding wraps the exterior, its naturally gray tone echoing the trunks in the surrounding woodland. The slate-gray metal roof traces the bar’s length in a gentle dual pitch, recalling the mineral boulders scattered across the site while keeping the silhouette modest. At the entrance, a clear break in the horizontal façade pulls visitors inward and under cover, then repeats at the rear where a framed terrace steps into the yard. Ground-level thresholds at key points keep the house aligned with the trails, so walks begin almost at the door.
Light, Tone, And Texture
Inside, soft tones and warm textures carry natural light deep into the plan and keep rooms bright through Quebec’s seasons. In select places, the exterior cedar continues onto interior walls, blurring the edge between outside cladding and indoor lining. Carefully placed windows cut precise views through the trees and across the clearing, creating a steady visual connection that anchors daily tasks to the surroundings. Varied ceiling heights mark subtle thresholds, so the elevated living room feels open to the backyard while the lower dining area gathers people closer around the table.
Kitchen And Shared Rooms
The kitchen is generous in size yet disciplined in composition, with minimalist cabinetry lines that conceal practical, ergonomic storage. Clear fronts and uncluttered surfaces keep attention on the view and the movement of light rather than on hardware or joinery. An open-plan living area extends from the kitchen, shaping a warm place for family and friends to sit, play, or talk after a day outdoors. Here, the hierarchy created by ceiling shifts and window placement makes each corner distinct without breaking the room apart.
Retreat For All Seasons
Through its straightforward form and restrained materials, the residence sits quietly between seasonal retreat and active gathering place. Horizontal lines, long views, and a consistent palette support a calm routine whether the couple is alone or hosting a full house. As light moves from the entrance to the terrace and out to the trails, the interior character stays steady, turning each visit into another way to watch the surrounding landscape shift through the year.
Photography courtesy of DESK architectes
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