A Window on The Lake: The Very Essence of the Cottage

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In 2016, YH2 Architecture constructed a cottage in Lac Plaisant, Mauricie, Quebec. Nicknamed a Window on The Lake, the 1500 square foot cottage is a simple wood dwelling with a close relationship to surrounding nature. It is the very essence of the cottage.

A Window on the Lake

The house is located on the site of an old family cottage and very close to the shores of Lac Plaisant in the Mauricie region.

Due to its simplicity, refinement, restraint, the firm was able to capture the essence of cottage life in a wooden home designed for vacations with a direct contact with nature.

On the south side, the house is covered with glass, creating a connection between the lake and living quarter. This design is arranged under a large double-height gable that extends outward to cover the house’s small porch.

A Pure, Light Volume

For the exterior, the firm used white cedar boards both for the roof and walls. It exudes a pure and light volume standing beautifully on a grassy carpet.

The single large gable is able to cover all living spaces, emphasizing the domination of wood construction inside and outside the building. Since the building comes with long sides that feature tall glass panels, the design allows seamless transition between exterior and interior spaces.

The Full Transparency

Due to the full transparency of the southern façade, the house will be filled with natural light whether it is fall or winter.

The clients also can still maintain a high degree of privacy when boating season rolls around thanks to the mature trees surrounding the house. The trees will also shield the house from the summer sun.

Meanwhile, the balloon frame with its exposed wooden joists and studs were painted in white, providing a unique rhythm of shadow and light in the building.