Location: Saint-Hyppolite, Quebec, Canada
Architect: MU Architecture
The Break Residence, located in the Laurentians area of Quebec, was built on the shore of Lake Revdor. Depending on how it is approached—from the lake or the ground—it shows a distinct face. This opulent home, which embodies the concept of “home,” helps to realize a man’s desire to erect his last home on his ancestors’ property. This large residence welcomes and acts as a gathering place for a tiny community made up of the few neighbouring houses, opening up over three levels.
A new house had to be built in place of an existing one due to the ambitious program and the lot’s unique narrowness. The house has a series of interlocking volumes that seem like rocks on the street side. Only two levels are visible due to the topography’s slope from the street, concealing the garden level that leads to the lake on the other side. The home’s focal point is the sculptural main entry, which is concealed by a two-story canopy and is nestled in between volumes that resemble rocks. The openings highlight the communal nature of the place by exposing the residence’s circulation and meeting areas.
