Maison Shefford | MXMA Architecture & Design

Designed to accommodate a family with young children, Maison Shefford is more than just a country retreat. It's a veritable sanctuary where every detail has been carefully thought out to sublimate the daily living experience. With its clean lines and luminous interiors, this home combines modernity and raw nature, offering its occupants an authentic connection with their environment.

Mont Shefford: where vision becomes reality

In their search for an ideal location in the Eastern Townships, the clients explored the region at length with architect Maxime Moreau before settling on a plot at the summit of Mont Shefford. This strategic location offers breathtaking panoramic views, with endless stretches of woodland and the picturesque town of Bromont.

In the heart of a forest, this site had immense potential to bring the owners' vision to life: an intimate retreat in a natural setting where family and friends feel warmly welcomed. Every amenity was designed to offer an immersive experience in nature, while preserving a balance - essential in the owners' eyes - between comfort and modernity. 

“When I think back to my childhood, I remember running barefoot in the grass and jumping into the pool,” says Annaliese, owner of Maison Shefford, who grew up in New Zealand. In New Zealand culture, which is imbued with freedom, you always live close to the beach and nature, and this has had a profound influence on my way of seeing things. The creation of our home was guided by the desire for it to blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape and offer children green spaces to play, allowing everyone to enjoy a year-round experience of well-being.”

To realize the couple's vision, MXMA subtly opened up the landscape by very selectively removing certain trees in a limited area. This approach, which reconciles panoramic views with bioclimatic considerations, created the desired balance between architecture and the natural environment, preserving the tree canopy near the house. Subsequently, the firm oriented the house to ensure unobstructed views, effective lighting schemes and efficient weather protection.

The house's optimal orientation takes advantage of local climatic conditions to maximize energy efficiency and comfort. The main north-facing façade features a protected entrance designed to minimize the impact of prevailing winds. The living spaces, suites and terraces open to the south and west. This configuration makes the most of natural light and encourages through-ventilation, creating a comfortable interior environment.

Designing above the obstacles

During construction, the first challenge encountered was the discovery of imposing bedrock at the heart of the excavation zone, which prevented the site from being excavated to the depth initially planned. Faced with a deficit of nearly 6 feet, the architect opted to raise the first floor and refine the project plan by designing a series of transitional volumes, which rise from the rocky plateau and follow the natural curves of the terrain.

The architect chose to take advantage of the site's distinctive topography by anchoring the residence in its mountain environment and using local stone to materialize the base of the house. This choice ensures the continuity and aesthetic coherence of the house with its natural setting.

On the garden level, the house houses a spacious games room and two guest suites. These spaces open onto a covered terrace featuring a fireplace, spa, pool and sauna discreetly nestled among the trees below. Strategic openings in this stone volume promote a natural, seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring the desired immersive experience of a nature retreat.

Enter a world of perspectives and light

Maison Shefford unfolds like successive strata, where architecture, interior design and landscape intertwine to create a balanced composition that blends into the trees.

 “We were influenced by the family's lifestyle - a couple with two children who enjoy entertaining family and friends, while anticipating their evolving needs for the next stages of their lives,” explains Catlin Stothers. We wanted to create a home that could grow with them.”

Inside, every room and every circulation area open onto the outdoors, with full-height windows framing the landscape like living works of art. As soon as you cross the threshold, the vestibule opens onto an impressive two-storey window, offering a panoramic view of the forest unfolding behind the house. This design has been meticulously thought out to integrate the perpetual presence of nature, while optimally capturing natural light.

A floating staircase in wood and glass, subtly integrated, reinforces this visual continuity, adding a touch of elegance to the ensemble. As the hours pass, sunlight pierces the foliage, creating a play of light and shadow that dances through the entrance, lending a soft, welcoming ambience to the space.

 On the left, the vestibule opens onto the home's central living area, a vast layout that includes a living room, dining room, kitchen and wine cellar. This elevated volume, reminiscent of a tree house, allows occupants to immerse themselves in the lush canopy.

“Oversized glass walls and sliding doors make the most of outdoor perspectives,” notes the architect. They provide both visual and physical direct access to the natural environment.”

In this residence, the open floor plan nevertheless preserves more intimate spaces that have been ingeniously integrated to offer peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

On the right, the principal suite reveals itself, a space cut off from the world that offers absolute privacy. This refuge bathed in natural light invites the couple to contemplate the surrounding peaks. With its private terrace and direct access to the pool, this oasis offers the ultimate relaxation experience.

The natural balance of materials

The clean and warm style of the interior continues outside where you'll find a spacious living room, fireplace, dining room and kitchen. The fluidity between indoor and outdoor spaces is reinforced by the continuity of the white oak parquet flooring.

Protected from the elements all year round, these outdoor spaces benefit from solar protection provided by green roofs and motorized shutters built into the ceiling. This configuration allows precise modulation of sunlight, while maintaining cool temperatures even on hot summer days.

Every detail has been meticulously considered, such as the glass railings integrated into the structure of the terrace, which preserve the view of the landscape while ensuring the family's safety.

On the stone walls that enclose the main living space on the first floor, a seemingly floating wooden volume emerges. This second floor houses the two children's bedrooms and a secondary suite. Each room is visually linked to the canopy by green roofs that change with the seasons.

These green roofs transcend their aesthetic function by incorporating ingenious rainwater recovery systems. Exterior landscaping is also part of this ecological approach, helping to preserve water resources. In addition to their impact on thermal insulation and interior comfort, these green roofs reduce the house's environmental footprint while helping to preserve the surrounding biodiversity.

Inspired by a natural palette, the home is enveloped in refined, neutral materials that embody a clean, sustainable aesthetic. A subtle balance emerges between the anthracite stone exterior, matte black metal, wood cladding and warm interior finishes. Each of these materials has been meticulously chosen for its natural color and texture, with the aim of creating a coherent link between interior and exterior spaces. The selection of these materials was also guided by criteria of sustainability, local availability and environmental certifications, reflecting the commitment of clients, architect and designer to sustainable building.

Fenix Black was chosen as the main material for all interior built-in. Its elegant matte finish provides a striking contrast with the warmth of the wooden elements and the organic patterns of the porcelain tiles.

 “All materials were selected for their inherent natural textures and their relationship with the outdoor environment. It was important to the customers that the interiors be modern and minimalist, yet comfortable, welcoming and pleasant to live in,” explains Catlin.

Maison Shefford: an ode to nature and architectural excellence

The end result goes beyond the conventions of traditional architecture, offering an experience that is both artistic and sensory. Maison Shefford embodies an authentic connection with its natural setting, echoing its owners' desire to live in a place where the interior blends with nature all year round.

In creating this sanctuary, architect Maxime Moreau and designer Catlin Stothers focused on every detail. The residence's interior and exterior spaces offer spectacular light effects and views. The intimacy of the premises invites relaxation and contemplation. Finally, Maison Shefford is truly an ode to nature, harmoniously combining architecture and environment.

Architect & Project manager: Maxime Moreau

Designer: Catlin Stothers

Team: Gabrielle Morin, Benjamin Tardif

Engineer: Geniex

Coontractor: Nu Drom

Landscape: Vert Cube

Photography: Nanne Springer (https://www.nannespringer.com/)