Set along the rocky coast of the St. Lawrence River in picturesque Métis-sur-mer, Quebec – a town very conscious of its built heritage – the task was to add a sympathetic yet contemporary wing to a compact early 19th-century timber-frame house with a traditional bellcast roof.
Taking the square mass and steep roof of the original house as generator, a year-round habitable section was carefully designed to fluidly connect to its uninsulated architectural ancestor. Incorporating ideas of new/old and encouraging seaward views from the house was key. By placing the master bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and service/storage rooms in the new wing, it allowed the historic original house with its open-plan great room and massive fireplace to once again reclaim its role as the heart of the site.