Maison du Lac Perdu
Set in the Laurentians, in Wentworth-Nord, Québec, Maison du Lac Perdu, designed by architect Ravi Handa, engages in a close and deliberate dialogue with its forested, lakeside setting. A single-storey house resting on a plateau, the residence unfolds as two distinct volumes whose siting is driven by views across the landscape and the presence of mature trees.
In keeping with a phenomenological approach, the architect slept on the site, walking the land and observing circulation patterns, the path of the sun, and subtle changes in elevation. Traces of former hunting paths or animal trails revealed the contours of a plateau well suited to construction, where the topography is most pronounced and the forest most dense.
The house takes shape at the edge of an escarpment that gently projects toward the lake, partially concealed within the forest. Despite its southern orientation, sunlight is treated as an element to be carefully modulated rather than maximized. This approach informs a two-volume organization that separates private spaces from shared living areas.
Although composed of two rectangular forms, the plan’s subtle misalignment gives the exterior its complexity. With no dominant façade, the house is discovered through movement, gradually revealing itself as one walks around it. Inside, the spatial logic is clear and deliberate. A single circulation axis connects the private quarters to the main living space, guiding the eye outward toward the landscape. Rather than framing a distant panorama, the house functions as a discreet observatory, offering a continuous and grounded relationship to its surroundings.
The interior is reduced to its essentials through a restrained palette of white, wood, and concrete. Wood-lined ceilings and a continuous heated concrete floor introduce warmth within a minimal framework. Energy performance strategies and technical elements are carefully integrated and largely concealed, reinforcing the project’s calm and durable character.
Through its commitment to durability and its measured relationship with the natural environment, Maison du Lac Perdu articulates an architecture shaped by intention and care, supporting a quiet, considered way of living in close connection with the landscape.
