On the lake side, this majestic house looks like an ocean liner that has anchored on the edge of a lake in the Laurentians, on a final journey. It is precisely this story that La Percée tells: that of a man who came to build his last residence on the land of his ancestors to leave his mark there in turn.
We have to go back to the 1930s to understand the attachment that Robert Heft felt for this corner of the country. At that time, his grandfather bought land to build on. It is there, on 400 acres of forest, that a small community made up of family members and friends gradually came to settle around two lakes, including the Revdor, dug by the ancestor. A myriad of memories and strong bonds, forged in the soil of Saint-Hippolyte, today form an affectionately woven quilt.
Having become a grandfather in his turn, the grandson did not hesitate to leave Montreal when he retired, to settle full time in this place which saw him grow up: “This choice of life was obvious. »
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
The sloping topography reveals only two levels on the facade. The garden level which gives access to the lake is revealed at the back.
There was no shortage of time to feed the imagination and visualize every corner of this dream home.
I had a pretty clear idea of where the rooms were and I knew the movements of the sun at each hour of the day and for each season. As I have always lived in gabled houses, I wanted clean lines and large windows to take advantage of maximum light and the landscape.
Robert Heft, owner
To this 2D vision, the Mu Architecture firm added a third dimension in an ambitious shell which extends over three levels. The breach, which crosses the house from edge to edge in its center, is an intriguing invitation to discover the whole place. The project was also a Grand Prize winner at the last Grands Prix du Design.
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
The breakthrough is a window onto the residence.
Heads and tails
From the street, the house presents an introverted profile. Designed in opacity, like a fault in the rock, a glass opening gives a glimpse of a warm interior, dressed in wood, stone and light. This breakthrough, which opens onto the canopy of the trees on the other side, also serves as a porthole onto an interior that is magnificent from all angles.
Seen from the water, the residence reveals its colors in complete transparency. “There are terraces on three levels which evoke the decks of a boat, and that’s a bit of the image we have when we look at the lake house,” points out architect Jean-Sébastien Herr. The roof, triangulated like sails, opens up the perspective towards the sun and the treetops, while creating protected surfaces for the balconies. » From these terraces, which overlook the lake, we have the illusion of sailing in calm waters.
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
The north facade is minimalist, while the house opens fully to the south facing the lake which appears like a painting.
A place of rejuvenation
Noble and durable materials adorn the interior, notably a quartz which is found like breadcrumbs on three floors, and whose veining displays the genealogy of a soil. The texture of the slate is felt underfoot. Despite the omnipresence of stone, the decor never appears austere. At the owner’s request, it is heated by four fireplaces: one per floor and the other outside.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
The kitchen includes an island, decorated with stools, which faces the view. Another multifunctional island serves as a server and provides the transition to the dining room.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
The main living room is bathed in light on both sides. On the wall which separates it from the office area, a bar area has been integrated.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
Indigenous art naturally finds its place in this space where nature is abundantly displayed.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
The garden level includes two other bedrooms, including a suite with direct access to the grounds and a boudoir. Guests also have a billiard room and a bar at their disposal.
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“We feel peace and quiet as soon as we enter the house. There is an impression of balance between materials, textures and lighting,” describes Jean-Sébastien Herr, who signed this creation with Charles Côté, co-founder of Mu Architecture. The windows and glass walls, at full height, inject a quantity of light into the premises and frame nature which is presented to the eye like a painting.
An art collector, Robert Heft also needed partitions to display his works, which was carefully considered. In this space, the creations of indigenous artists fit naturally and echo abundant nature. The Revdor, where the owner learned to swim and waded for a long time, is also omnipresent.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
The double-sided fireplace is visible from the living room and the dining room.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
Slate covers the floors and quartzine, which recalls the ripples of water, covers the central wall, erected on three floors like the mast of a boat. The white cedar of the ceiling warms them.
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An inhabited space
The narrowness of the land is the constraint that sounded the death knell for the grandfather’s old wooden chalet. Vast and luxurious with its 620 m² (6400 ft²2) in size, La Percée replaced the original building, but retains its soul and memory.
It may seem too large for a single occupant. “Each room has its personality and allows you to experience different moments,” replies the latter. But above all, this liner reflects the desire of its captain to make it a place of welcome and gathering for his family – including his mother – and the brotherhood which occupies the neighboring houses.
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE, PROVIDED BY MU ARCHITECTURE
Robert Heft wants to make La Percée a gathering place for his family.
My grandchildren are the sixth generation to grow up in these places.
Robert Heft, owner of La Percée
The lakeside house fills up quickly, despite its size, on weekends – and during power outages, since it is the only one with a generator in the area! Luxury and space serve hospitality. Each floor, accessible by an elevator, has its own lounge or boudoir. Each room has its own bathroom and balcony.
“It was my children and my grandchildren that I thought of when building this house, always with this idea of continuity,” emphasizes Robert Heft. Generational connections are important to us and keep us very grounded. This residence is not an investment and I have no intention of selling it. I only have one expectation: that it will be a meeting place, in the future, for my descendants. »