“Spaces immersed in nature” is the concept of the High House, designed in 2018 by the architectural firm Delordinaire. This original idea and the design of the building convinced the owners to leave their Montreal life to settle at the foot of Mont Sainte-Anne.
Suzanne Davoll and Jérôme Do looked for a house in Montreal for a long time. In vain. When they saw a report on the High House, they fell in love with it. So much so that they changed their plans: they convinced their teenagers to leave the city and settle 320 kilometres away, in the Côte-de-Beaupré MRC, located between Quebec City and the Charlevoix region.
“The ski-study program at Mont-Sainte-Anne high school was a big plus in convincing the kids,” remembers Jérôme Do. “We were confident that we would find a new job easily. We took the plunge.”
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, THE PRESS
Suzanne Davoll is American. Jérôme Do is French. The couple chose to live halfway between the two countries, in Quebec. The minimalist and contemporary design of the High House convinced them to settle in the countryside.
In 2019, they swapped their “condo, metro, sleep” routine for a life in the countryside.
High House is located on a dead-end street, surrounded by greenery, five minutes from the ski slopes and in the heart of the historic village of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges.
In this bucolic environment, the modern design of the building seems to clash. However, the architects thought of several details so that it fits into the landscape. For example, the white exterior cladding allows the house to blend into the decor in winter.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, THE PRESS
The large glass room on the ground floor gives the illusion of living in the middle of nature.
Nature bath
The structure on stilts has increased the cost and difficulty level of construction, argues Jérôme Do. However, this particularity offers a considerable advantage to the owners: a view.
“The stilt typology elevates the house above the surrounding tree line, giving it an uninterrupted view of Mont Sainte-Anne from the living room, and a striking overall aesthetic. It also allows the sun to penetrate directly into the house at all hours of the day,” describes the Delordinaire firm on its website.
At ground level, the large glass room gives the illusion of living in the heart of nature.
This room was designed as an outdoor space protected by glass. On cool summer evenings, you light the wood fireplace and it’s like having a fire outside, without the bugs. In winter, you’re surrounded by snow. It’s magical.
Jérôme Do, co-owner
This level is not heated, he says. It serves as both a locker room and storage for skis, bikes and firewood.
“With the four-foot wide doors, you could even fit a snowmobile inside,” he says. “The floor was designed for that.”
Once you have removed your shoes, you can access the upper floor via the glass staircase located on the north facade.
Cottage life
Upstairs, the staircase leads to the kitchen. The space is minimalist, but everything you need is there and everything is functional.
The long counter serves as a link between the living and sleeping areas. On one side, the volume of the dining room and living room is amplified by the cathedral ceiling. On the wall, a huge window frames the view of Mont Sainte-Anne. The bathroom and two bedrooms are on the other side of the kitchen. The parents occupy the first bedroom and the boys share the second.
Before settling in Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, the couple lived in Paris, San Francisco and Montreal. They were never afraid of tight spaces. So the family never lacked space in the High House, but they did lack storage.
The house was rented as a cottage before we bought it. When you come two days a week, you don’t have the same needs as a family. We had to add boxes and modules.
Suzanne Davoll, co-owner
A ladder provides access to the mezzanine. This floor is used as an office and a guest bedroom. Here too, the couple added modules to increase storage.
Jérôme Do says he always dreamed of being an architect or designer. He studied physics instead. Living in the High House allowed him to reconcile with his dream.
But after five years in the countryside, the children’s studies now require a return to the city. The skis will never be far away to return to hurtle down the mountain.
View the property sheet
Property in brief
Asking price: $575,000
Municipal assessment: $425,500
Year of construction: 2018
Overall house dimensions: 45’8″ x 26’6″ (irregular)
Land area: 5646 sq. ft.2
Property tax: $3176
School tax: $341
Broker: Marie-Hélène Poulin, Engels & Völkers Quebec