Wooden expansion for a home in Canada. White prism for a new living space

The purpose of the project by Acdf Architecture Studio was to create an extension to the old residence, through a new space that would create new functional areas for the family, between shared time and working time

The old traditional house is located near the town of Saint-Donat, close to the vast Lac Ouareau, surrounded by a birch forest. The owners, a large family, commissioned the Studio to design a larger area to accommodate the children's game, thus ensuring that all family members would find a peaceful corner when they spend time together: this was possible by creating an extension that reflects the size of the original building

The new space, a white prism on a concrete pedestal that looks like a refined version of the existing house, is the result of this design game. Through this contrasting effect, the extension maintains a connection with the original building. The sheet metal roof, cladded in wood, evokes the smooth, shiny bark of the birches that grow on the site; its colors and textures are also reminiscent of the white walls of the countryside barns

The large open space on the ground floor, with its windows, provides a spectacular view of the lake. The wealth of materials, polished concrete floors and natural wood details enhance the shapes and emphasize the linearity of the spaces. The central fireplace, surrounded by black slatted wood, creates a relaxing environment and an oasis of comfort in the spacious living room. The integrated desks offer private spaces in the common areas while the living room and its play table encourage children to create their own space

The transition from the old house to the new one takes place on a glass bridge: an oak frame directs the views towards the interior of the house. The truncated shape of the bridge makes it big enough to create a welcome break floating on the garden. The axis of the bridge aligns the kitchen of the existing building with the new living room, which provides an overview of the spaces

Through this new extension, it has been possible to give more "area" to a historical residence, without changing its shape: an architecture that respects the ancient and highlights it through the use of modern materials