- Interior
- Architecture & development
Nathalie Dionne Architecture is a Canadian studio founded by Nathalie Dionne and Martin Laneuville. Through their joint experience in the film and art world, they know how to put poetry in their designs. The studio's most recent project, Forest House I, is a private home in East Bolton in Quebec for a couple from Montreal. The clients have been dreaming of a house surrounded by nature for years. The rocky landscape became the starting point of the design.
Forest House I is located in a naturally shaped rock crevice. One side of the house leans on the rocks while the rest of the building stands on stilts. As a result the architects were able to keep the impact on the surroundings as low as possible. In addition, the extra height made the view even more impressive. In order to keep the imposing forest present in the house at all times, the architects made use of enormous windows.
The house merges with the surrounding landscape.
The spaces of the linear house flow smoothly into a terrace on the north side. There is a kitchen, a dining room, a living room and a bedroom suite on the southern side of the building. The stairs and entrance hall are located between the living room and the bedroom, which connects the floating house with the earth. Nathalie Dionne Architecture gave everything they got in terms of wood types to create Forest House I. The entire building is covered with white cedar wood that has been treated so that it turns grey more quickly. This makes the house merge with the surrounding landscape. There is also a lot of wood in the interior. The roof structure consists of black pinewood beams, the sink, the kitchen cabinets and the stairs are made of solid maple wood and plywood was used for the remaining cabinets. 
Forest House I is the first in a series of similar projects by Nathalie Dionne Architecture that aims to bring the resident closer to nature and encourage the use of ecological materials. The house attempts to reflect the essence of the surrounding forest. 
Photography by Raphaël Thibodeau