Architecture Wednesday: Le Phare, The Lighthouse

This is Le Phare—the Lighthouse—a home, built in 2010, in the region of Cap-à-l’Aigle in Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada.

The Lighthouse is part of Les Terrasses Cap-à-l’Aigle, a residential hillside development offering stunning views of the town of La Malbaie, the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding mountains.

The architects designed the house to appear as though it was coming out of the steep terrain, and topped it with an environmentally-friendly green roof that also makes it part of the landscape, while acting as an insulating layer to keep it warm in winter and cool in summer.

A wide gateway that doubles as a carport and covered entrance rests on a retaining wall/storage unit that was necessary given the condition of the very steep terrain. On the ground floor is the main living areas, a continuous open plan without any apparent structure, and windows facing east, south, and west. The lower level accommodates four bedrooms and two full bathrooms arranged in a linear way following a clear axis perpendicular to the main volume above allowing for each room to get a view.

It’s the kind of house that appears to float above the landscape while clearly being part of it; it’s the kind of house that maintains its simplicity while offering the most stunning views. It’s the kind of house where you can truly get away from it all, while looking out at it all.

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