Paul Bernier Architecte, Raphael Thibodeau · Lake Brompton House

Raphael Thibodeau

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Context and Site Placement
Set on a sloping, wooded site, the house takes advantage of a small natural plateau along the edge of an escarpment that drops toward the lake. This elevated position offers compelling views of the forest as well as framed glimpses of the water.
The design sought to benefit from—and highlight—the existing conditions of the site. Efforts were made to minimize tree cutting, preserve the natural vegetation cover, and adapt the project to the existing topography in order to avoid excessive cut and fill. The house was meant to adjust to the land, not the other way around.
A "Y"-Shaped Plan
The house unfolds according to a “Y”-shaped plan. The three wings converge toward the heart of the home, creating fluid circulation and open views toward the outdoors. Each wing contains a primary function:

East Wing: living area
Southwest Wing: bedrooms
North Wing: service spaces This fan-like composition allows the volumes to open toward the most advantageous orientations of the site, depending on their use. The 120-degree angle between the wings further widens outward views. The “Y” plan also allows vegetation to regenerate in the recessed spaces formed between the wings, reinforcing a strong sense of proximity to nature from every room and ensuring the house remains discreetly integrated into the forest when seen from outside. Massing and Orientation Gabled Volumes The house is composed of three gabled volumes meeting at a central point. Each wing features a steeply pitched two-sided roof set on a simple rectangular one- storey base, drawing from a familiar vernacular form. However, their radial assembly creates unusual and compelling spatial opportunities. All three wings feature cathedral ceilings that integrate the roof slope into the interior volume. From the outside, the perception of the house shifts depending on the viewpoint: the multiple façades and angles between wings continually alter the reading of the building as one moves through the site. Sequence and Experience Approach From the road, the house appears as a restrained volume with few openings, monolithic in character thanks to its dark, monochrome exterior materiality. This understated presence helps it blend into the forest while preserving the occupants’ privacy. As one approaches the large black volume, the opening created by the entrance alcove becomes visible. This glazed compression, formed by two opposing alcoves, defines the entry hall. In winter, a more discreet side door provides access from the entrance alcove to a mudroom located in the service wing, allowing occupants to remove outerwear before entering the main hall. Living Area The interior sequence, guided by built-in white oak millwork, leads into the living wing: a bright, open space beneath the cathedral ceiling. From here, the meeting point of the three roofs reveals the distinctive geometry of the house. The kitchen, dining room, and living room occupy this open space, connected to the terrace and forest on the south side. At the far end, the screened porch opens toward the lake. Our clients spend much of their time in this elevated outdoor room, sheltered from the elements yet open to breezes and the sounds of the surrounding nature. At the transition between the living room and the screened porch stands a central double-sided fireplace. Its chimney, clad in black steel, rises to the roof ridge and anchors the space. Several sculptural light fixtures take advantage of the generous interior volume. White-painted steel tension rods and linear lighting elements for indirect ceiling illumination also occupy the double-height space more discreetly. Bedroom Wing At the junction of the three wings, an oak-clad volume projects forward, folds, and slips into the corridor leading to the bedrooms. The bedroom wing is more intimate. The lowered corridor ceiling, combined with the presence of wood and lime plaster on the walls, marks the transition into a calmer zone. Here again, aligned with the circulation axis, an opening offers a framed view into the forest. A sense of release occurs when moving from the lowered corridor ceiling into the cathedral ceiling of the bedroom. The primary bedroom opens generously toward the site, the lake, and the morning light. Construction Strategies and Materiality Structurally, the roofs are composed of sloped rafters supported by ridge beams. The three ridge beams meet at the center of the house, at the junction of the “Y,” without any vertical support at that point. A load-transfer strategy toward the exterior walls was implemented in order to keep the heart of the home free of columns. Durable materials were prioritized. The exterior cladding is made of locally sourced Eastern white cedar, known for its natural resistance to decay. Combined with an exterior stain, it ensures longevity while requiring minimal maintenance. If the occupants choose to let the black stain fade over time, it will gradually be replaced by the natural silvery patina of the wood without compromising durability. The steel roof and aluminum windows are also long-term solutions. Inside, a simple approach was adopted. The concrete floor facilitates movement between indoors and outdoors without risk of damage, while also serving as thermal mass to store winter solar gains. Other surfaces are painted white, with more refined materials used selectively in key areas: slate stone kitchen countertops, black steel for the chimney, white oak for built-in furniture, and lime plaster on certain wall surfaces.