07 Nov 2025
Located on the shores of Lake Archambault in Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, this new residence offers a contemporary interpretation of living in a natural environment. The project emphasises a simple volumetry, composed of cubical volumes topped with flat roofs, designed to minimise the building’s visual impact on the landscape while maximising openings toward the lake and sunlight exposure.
A restrained composition
The exterior envelope stands out through the use of a single locally produced material—pre-finished white wood cladding—selected for its durability and its ability to reflect natural light in a site with little natural shade. This light surface acts as a neutral background, highlighting oak-tinted window frames that introduce a subtle warmth to the overall composition.
This limited material palette ensures a unified architectural reading and strengthens the visual relationship between the building and its immediate surroundings. For the sake of continuity, the same materials subtly extend into the interior, where light wood, white finishes, and concrete dominate the spatial atmosphere.
Openness and spatial continuity
The layout prioritises a fluid relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. A large veranda, adjoining a pergola built with an exposed wood structure, extends the main volume and creates a strong horizontal line that anchors the project within the site, emphasising both the horizon and the view toward the lake. This architectural gesture serves as a transition between dwelling and landscape while creating intermediate zones that encourage outdoor living.
Landscape design and site integration
The landscape concept is based on the use of native plant species, selected for their resilience and ecological compatibility with the lakeside environment of Lake Archambault. This approach promotes local biodiversity while also reducing maintenance requirements.
The site naturally opens onto a red sand beach, whose texture and hue blend seamlessly with the tones of the surrounding landscape. The abundant sunlight informs the orientation of living spaces and supports a natural lighting strategy, reducing dependence on artificial illumination.
A discreet and enduring architecture
Through its measured composition, coherent materiality, and careful landscape integration, the Lake Archambault residence embodies an architectural approach in which formal simplicity and spatial quality take precedence over expressive gesture. The project reflects a desire to inhabit the territory respectfully, sustainably, and in continuity with the Lanaudière landscape.
Technical sheet
Location | Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, Québec
Project type | New construction
Years of completion | 2024
House area | 3900 sq ft / 360 sq m
Structural engineering | Geniex
Photo credits | Maxime Brouillet
