We enter the Cadrée Perchée as if into a glass cube, with the astonishment of finding 360-degree nature, barely veiled by transparent walls. In a clever illusion that blurs the boundaries between the interior and a few plots of Morin-Heights, an undulating landscape is offered with its magnificence and its roughness. Faced with such a setting, its designer did not seek to compete and it is with wisdom that he honors a larger painting.
It is on a promontory that this building has crept up, furtively scanning its Laurentian landscape with a voyeuristic gaze that nothing obstructs, not even a curtain. On one side, mountains, a forest, a lake and a river below; on the other, a section of rock which expresses what is raw and wonderfully sculpted in nature. We live here in a panorama that no object can approach, to the rhythm of the seasons and the trajectory of the sun.
From the outside, it looks like she’s an exhibitionist. If it were not for its green setting, it would indeed present itself to the view of passers-by like an X-ray: from edge to edge with very little, in between, to distract the eyes from what is essential. But La Cadrée is a cedilla in a green palindrome. Although she is perched, she never contemplates her surroundings from the top of her heels.
Humility is the delicate approach recommended by the architect and founder of L’Empreinte, Pier-Olivier Lepage, also owner of this house which serves as a workplace.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The architect and designer of La Cadrée Perchée, Pier-Olivier Lepage
As a creator, my main value is to pay homage to nature. No space was left without light. Everywhere, the visual axes create this relationship with the environment.
Pier-Olivier Lepage, architect and founder of L’Empreinte, and owner of Cadrée Perchée
From this refuge, taken from the angle of minimalism, the architect created a place for light therapy. More than half of the enclosure is made of glass and highlights sunsets and sunrises visible from either side of the building.
Living outdoors
La Cadrée Perchée is inspired by the principle of a radiator in order to accommodate maximum light. By playing with a U-shaped geometry and wooden walls on the exterior, the structure captures the sun’s rays and reflects them towards the interior, without overheating. This stratagem is one of the reasons which made the Cadrée Perchée an award-winning creation at the Grand Prix International d’Architecture.
In hot weather, the structure favors natural ventilation and tempers the sun, which accentuates the impression of living outdoors.
In summer, I want to be able to open my windows wide and feel the wind, hear the rustling of the leaves, the rain, the birds.
Pier-Olivier Lepage, architect and designer of Cadrée Perchée
In cold weather, the concrete floor, whitewashed to accentuate the effect of light, stores the heat of morning light which enters full force.
Witness a natural spectacle
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Both a place to work and relax, the master bedroom fills with light at dawn.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The bathtub, positioned in the master bedroom, is a privileged place to enjoy the view.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
In the bathroom, a hammock serves as an openwork screen when the sun generously fills the space.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The house has three bedrooms, including this one which also serves as a playroom for a little girl.
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The master bedroom fills with light at dawn. When the forest exhales its excess moisture, misty mornings are a scene that incites daydreaming and creates the impression of floating above the clouds. This inspiring landscape is an idyllic setting in which to create. The room, like a small loft, accommodates an office in addition to a bathroom “to reduce the budget per square foot and minimize maintenance,” explains Pier-Olivier Lepage. If you need to relax while enjoying the view, this is where it happens. » Located at the other end of the glass rectangle, the bathroom (without bathtub) includes a shower and other functionalities.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The use of construction timber made it possible to reduce costs. The effect gives a rustic and warm side to the decor.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Inspired by Japanese kotatsu, the living room, built into the floor, is an enveloping corner for eating by the light of the fireplace or watching television.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Installed on the floor, the fireplace is positioned at eye level once you are seated in the living room.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
A library wall built from treated wood, usually reserved for fences, pergolas and terraces, adorns the entrance corridor.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The kitchen keeps a low profile so as not to distract attention from the essentials. Behind is the discreet laundry area, in a corridor which transforms into a laundry room if necessary.
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Between these two poles lies the living area under a 10-foot ceiling. The living room is swallowed up by the floor and is recessed like a Japanese kotatsu so as not to block the view. Cushions are placed directly on the heating slab, modulated there to form a comfortable seat from which to contemplate the fireplace at eye level. Only discreet lighting fixtures hang above this relaxation block like drop earrings.
Build your shelter
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PHOTO PIER-OLIVIER LEPAGE
Perched on a concrete base, La Cadrée Perchée overlooks its territory and blends in with the treetops.
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PHOTO PIER-OLIVIER LEPAGE
The raw appearance of the finishing wood recalls the woody character of the bark of the maples that surround the home.
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PHOTO PIER-OLIVIER LEPAGE
Further down the land, an oasis includes a small pond.
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PHOTO: PIER-OLIVIER LEPAGE
Interior and exterior merge in this glass cube surrounded by wood.
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The owner built the house and all its furniture himself, spending more than a year on it, including four months full time to build the structure. His project reveals know-how and clever tricks that helped reduce costs, including the use of construction timber on the ceiling and treated wood planks as exterior cladding. This finish gives a rustic and warm side to a decor that maximizes each square foot without being greedy.
Despite its contemporary design, the house does not have the coldness that is sometimes criticized in minimalist environments. During the day, it is bright. In the evening, its glass walls avoid the trap of turning into black holes thanks to well-designed exterior lighting. So what could become hostile becomes a game of shimmers. “When the reflection of what is inside the house is superimposed on the exterior elements, it creates an enveloping and truly special atmosphere,” describes the man of the woods, proud of this domain that he has occupied for three years now. . We will leave La Cadrée understanding why, while still regretting a little at not being able to be in the front row to witness this nocturnal theater.
Visit the L’Empreinte website