Along the shores of Lake Memphremagog in the Potton region, yh2 designed the Counter-Slope House in response to steep ground, dense trees and shifting light. The land drops sharply toward a narrow strip beside the water, while surrounding vegetation often casts the site into shadow. The architecture reduces its visual presence through a fragmented arrangement that follows the terrain.
HOUSING
Two related volumes rise from the ground, each topped by a roof that combines a slope with a counter-slope. This geometry responds to the site’s changing lines and divides the house into smaller forms. The arrangement reduces the perceived scale of the residence and allows both volumes to maintain distinct orientations.
The main roof supports a belvedere that serves as an arrival point, reception area and viewing platform. On a site dominated by a steep incline, this horizontal surface creates a rare moment of stability. Visitors enter from above, pause over the lake and then descend into the house. The sequence places observation before occupation and turns arrival into a measured transition between the ground and the interior.
The main volume follows the site’s natural terrace through a longitudinal plan. This placement limits major alterations to the land and keeps the building close to the existing topography. Large glazed openings direct the living spaces toward the lake, while balconies extend the floor planes beyond the enclosed rooms. These extensions connect interior activity with the open air and create gradual thresholds between the house and its surroundings.
Above, two elongated volumes turn away from one another. One faces the lake, while the other looks toward the mountain. The bedrooms occupy these upper sections and sit among the trees, where openings frame foliage and changing daylight. Their opposing directions allow the architecture to address both sides of the site without relying on a single dominant view.
The steep ground determines the circulation pattern. Entry begins at the highest level, with the lake visible beyond, while the living areas descend toward the ground and settle against the slope. This inverted sequence places daily spaces in closer contact with the terrain and gives the lower level a more protected character.
An exposed timber structure guides movement through the residence. The architects leave the wood raw, allowing columns, beams and joints to remain visible throughout the interior. This structural rhythm gives the house continuity and makes construction part of the spatial experience.
Materials respond to direct contact with rock, weather and vegetation. Cast-in-place concrete forms the base where the house meets the natural stone. Natural cedar covers the exterior and will change in color as it weathers, drawing closer to the surrounding plant and mineral tones. White oak introduces warmth inside, while black frames and details define openings and sharpen views toward the lake, trees and mountain.
Project Name: À contre-pente (The Counter-Slope House)
Location: Potton, QC, Canada
Completion date: 2024
Area: 4530 pi.ca.
Architect: yh2
Design team: Marie-Claude Hamelin, Loukas Yiacouvakis, Karl Choquette, Lisa Busmey
Contractor: Construction Alain Pouliot Inc.
Engineer: Génie X
Photographer: Maxime Brouillet
