Montreal-based MU Architecture has completed a lakeside house in Quebec. Built on the shores of Lake Revdor, the three-level Break Residence was commissioned to fulfill the client’s wish of building a home on the land of his ancestors and is described by the design team as “a place of welcoming and gathering” for the small surrounding community.

The project is located on a challenging site, with a narrow lot and sloping topography. The resulting residence is composed of several interlocking volumes resembling a series of rocks, with two levels visible from the street and a hidden ‘garden level’ on the opposite side opening onto the lake.

On the street side, a sculptural main entrance is defined by a double-story canopy chiseled between the rock-like volumes. In contrast to the solid, secretive nature of the streetside elevation, the lakeside sees the residence exhibit an open and extroverted personality complete with extensive glazing, large roof overhangs, and golden accents.

Inside, the 6,700-square-foot home adopts what the design team calls a “distinguished and contemplative character.” To manifest a sense of peacefulness, the team chose a material palette of raw ‘mineral’ materials including a large stone wall at the heart of the residence. Linking all three levels, and visible from inside and outside, the wall is both a space separator and a unifying architectural element for the residence.

“Each material was thoughtfully and carefully selected,” the design team explains. “The expressive veining of the quartzite, with lines invoking the color of water, the texture of the slate, the warmth of the oak and maple furniture, the maple flooring, and the western Canadian hemlock ceiling, combine to promote timeless architecture where the patina of both stone and wood form the base on which the house stands, will grow old, and will gain beauty.”

Amenities within the home include coffee stations and bars at each level, as well as bathrooms and balconies for each room. The interior is also punctuated with small, contemplative lounges and boudoirs offering residents the opportunity to pause and relax, fulfilling what the team describes as “an ode to hospitality, generosity, comfort, and the beauty of nature.”