Atelier Échelle designs House on the Lake on the west banks of Lake Memphremagog as a contemporary reinterpretation of the rural Quebec barn. The project repeats the prototypical barn volume in four distinct articulations: an outdoor summer home, an indoor winter home, a living quarter, and a guest quarter. Cedar roofs, brick walls, and glass bridges connect these volumes into a unified architectural experience.
HOUSING
The six-bedroom waterfront residence orients toward the lake to capture sunsets across the water. An art collector couple commissioned the house to host family gatherings and entertain friends. Inside, a sequence of galleries and in situ installations integrates art directly into the architectural fabric. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls frame the lake and surrounding terrain, shifting in character with light and season.
Each of the four volumes serves a specific function while maintaining a shared formal language. Clerestory windows bring abundant natural light into every section. Glass bridges link the volumes and appear to hover above the ground.
The volume closest to the lake functions as the outdoor summer home. A 100-foot-long terrace accommodates an exterior kitchen, al fresco dining area, fireside lounge, and heated pool. The indoor winter home presents an open plan that combines kitchen, dining, lounge, and piano bar. The living quarter contains the primary suite, office, wine cellar, pantry, and powder room. The guest quarter, positioned farthest from the lake, includes five bedrooms and a children’s lounge.
The house relies on reinforced concrete, steel framing, and brick infill walls for its structural system. Designers developed a system capable of supporting motorized glass panels spanning more than 50 feet. These panels secure uninterrupted views of Lake Memphremagog and the surrounding environment. An 11-foot-tall wood entry door opens into an art gallery and frames the lake beyond. The open plan kitchen replaces above-the-counter cabinetry with fully glazed windows, strengthening the visual connection to the exterior.
Material selection guides the aging process of the house. Exterior walls feature dark-toned, water-struck clay bricks sourced from Denmark. Oversized roof shingles were custom fabricated in a local workshop. Stonework across the terrace, garden, exterior kitchen, and fireplace combines locally found black and gray Cambrian granite. Inside, the kitchen island consists of a single rough stone block topped with a charred live-edge walnut slab set at bar height.
Art installations anchor several interior spaces. The powder room displays a mural by Simon Hughes representing the four seasons. To preserve mural surfaces, a bronze vanity stands as a central column. At the pool, tilework by Hughes depicts floating icebergs in contrast to the heated water.
The wine cellar holds more than 1,200 bottles, shaped to accommodate the distinctive Bourgogne bottle form. A micro-fluted glass and bronze door leads into a room clad in white oak millwork compressed between a gravel floor and a bronze ceiling. Recessed lighting and bronze mirrors cast a warm glow and generate reflections throughout the space.
The billiards room features deep blue corduroy drapery and walnut millwork. A black felt table anchors the room, echoed by lighting fixtures suspended from black nylon straps. Through careful organization of volume, structure, and material, Atelier Échelle delivers a residence that frames lake views while supporting art, family life, and seasonal occupation.
Project Name: House on the Lake
Location: Magog, Québec, Canada
Area: 13,000 sq. ft.
Architecture: Atelier Échelle
Interiors: Atelier Échelle
Engineering: Latéral
General Contractor: Sherma Construction
Lighting Design: Luxtec
Photography: Maxime Brouillet
