Rockhaven Country Residence | Figurr Architects Collective

The 4,800-square-foot, four-bedroom house is situated on the shores of Lake Memphremagog in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and takes full advantage of sweeping water views. The homeowners wanted a modern cabin retreat that engaged with the surrounding forest and had the traditional simplicity of the family cottage.

The house is positioned along two major axes, with one volume running along the roadside and the lake, and the other crossing it perpendicularly, offering a panoramic view of the lake from the entrance. The design also plays with the intersection of public and private space. The lakeside facade maximizes glazing, providing uninterrupted views. The streetside façade is composed of wood panelling with limited windows. This maintains privacy, while creating an immersive view of the lake and countryside when you enter the home.

Modern living on the shore of Lake Memphremagog

The residence sits on the foundation of the owner's previous cottage. The new building was extended to create a walk-out on the lower level, where ample storage allows the active family to access sports equipment and outdoor gear from the mudroom. This gives them more efficient access to the outdoor gathering spaces and the existing boathouse.

Rockhaven is a house designed for entertaining. As you enter the main floor, you are greeted by an unobstructed view of the three-sided stone fireplace, framed by full-height windows overlooking the lake. The open concept and high ceilings throughout the main floor mean that all public spaces, including the adjacent outdoor terrace, are visually and physically connected. It was important to the homeowners that the house flowed seamlessly through the main spaces while balancing a cozy atmosphere. The house is organized with public spaces on the upper entry level. There is also a guest suite immediately off the living and dining room that features views of the lake, the forest, and the existing guest house on the property from the private balcony. The lower level features private bedrooms, a library, a family room, a gym, and a walk-out to the garden. The property further benefits from a guest house on the north side of Rockhaven.

A natural palette that blends the indoors with the outdoors

A natural palette on the interior brings the beauty of the forest inside. Following the central concept of the two intersecting volumes, two types of wood were used in the main spaces to define the living areas—a natural shade of wood in the living and dining room, and a lighter essence in the kitchen. This material choice reinforces the distinct identity of the two intersecting volumes. The wood finishing also links the kitchen with the exterior terrace – another choice that keeps the connection with the outdoors.

Special care was taken with the placement of the house. The narrow site has a long frontage along the road and a legally restrictive naturally vegetated buffer on the lakeside. The design solution was to take advantage of the slope down to the lake, minimizing the appearance of the cottage along the road and maximizing the view of the lake from the inside.

The house's exterior palette consists of stone, black wood, natural wood, and black metal. The terrace also has a wood screen that gives the impression that the building is longer. This gives the homeowners more space, while maintaining their privacy. Rockhaven's design intention was to create a dynamic structure that opens onto the water and emphasizes the natural beauty of the Eastern Townships. A home nestled in the beauty of its surroundings.

Photography: David Boyer Photographe (https://www.david-boyer.ca/)