paul bernier architecte shapes lake brompton house in canada
On a wooded, sloping site overlooking the water in Quebec, Canada, Lake Brompton House by Paul Bernier Architecte takes form as a three-wing, single-story residence that fans outward to frame views of the lake. The project is positioned high on the terrain, using its elevation to open toward the landscape while allowing the surrounding mature forest to remain visually dominant. The house breaks into distinct arms that follow the topography and orientation of the site, forming three converging wings organized around a central point of circulation.
This fan-shaped composition allows each volume to respond to light, views, and the gradient of the site while maintaining a fluid relationship between interior spaces. The wing facing the lake rests on a concrete base and incorporates an additional garden-level floor, directly engaging the natural slope. The screened-in porch projects forward, while the other two wings step back, allowing the landscape to take precedence. The restrained geometry and dark, monochromatic exterior materials contribute to a subdued presence within the forested setting.
all images by Raphaël Thibodeau
a three-wing residence immersed in forest
The entrance wing, containing the garage and vestibule, presents a closed and almost monolithic facade to the approach. Its dark exterior reinforces a sense of opacity and restraint, allowing the building to blend into its wooded surroundings rather than compete with them.
A glazed alcove on the side signals the point of entry. The Monteal-based team at Paul Bernier Architecte clad the interior in warm materials and increased brightness that contrasts with the austerity of the exterior. Built-in white oak furniture guides movement through the house, establishing a continuous interior path that leads toward the living wing. Beneath a cathedral ceiling, the living room, dining room, and kitchen open as a single, luminous volume that reveals the geometry generated by the three converging wings.
Large sliding glass doors extend these spaces onto the south-facing terrace, creating a direct relationship with the outdoors. The screened-in porch, projecting from the living area, becomes an intermediary zone oriented toward the lake throughout the seasons.
nestled on a wooded, sloping site overlooking the water in Quebec
calibrated intimacy in the private wing
In contrast to the openness of the communal areas, the bedroom wing adopts a more intimate scale. A lowered hallway ceiling and enveloping wall materials temper the spatial experience. At the end of the corridor, the primary suite opens generously toward the landscape and the lake, restoring full spatial height. The southeast orientation of this wing captures morning light, reinforcing the sense of retreat while maintaining a strong visual connection to the outdoors.
From the lake, the house appears understated. Its concrete base anchors the volume to the slope, while the dark cladding allows the forest canopy to take over. By fragmenting the mass into three single-story wings and aligning them with the terrain, the project avoids monumentality in favor of calibration between openness and enclosure presence and withdrawal.
Lake Brompton House by Paul Bernier Architecte takes form as a three-wing, single-story residence
the project is positioned high on the terrain
using elevation to open toward the landscape
three converging wings organized around a central point of circulation
the house breaks into distinct arms that follow the topography and orientation of the site
allowing the surrounding mature forest to remain visually dominant
this fan-shaped composition allows each volume to respond to light, views, and the gradient of the site
the wing facing the lake rests on a concrete base
incorporating an additional garden-level floor
Paul Bernier Architecte clads the interior in warm materials and increased brightness
built-in white oak furniture guides movement through the house
establishing a continuous interior path that leads toward the living wing
monochromatic exterior materials contribute to a subdued presence within the forested setting
the dark exterior reinforces a sense of opacity and restraint
a closed and almost monolithic facade to the approach
project info:
name: Lake Brompton House
architect: Paul Bernier Architecte | @paulbernierarchitecte
location: Quebec, Canada
team: Paul Bernier, Patrice Lebel, Maxime Dumas, Paule Bourcier
structural engineer: St-Georges Structures et civil
contractor: Construction Memphré
photographer: Raphaël Thibodeau | @raphael_thibodeau
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