Re-imagined preservation

Initially built as a small storage space by the previous owner, who was a lumberman, the building set in Sutton, Canada has been rearranged into a forest refuge by its new owner. La Colombière (Dovery) represents the completion and third phase of this simple one-story construction into a true retreat expanding over three floors with no handrails or ballarstraites!

In an attempt to preserve the surrounding nature, yh2 architects kept the footprint of the building . This new phase inspired itself from the natural growth of trees. The link of the tree/house to the soil remains the same while growing vertically and developing in the tree canopies. By following these principles, the extension was completed without any trees being cut or heavy machinery.

Recalling the bark of the surrounding conifer, the exterior is clad in dark cedar. La Colombière’s interior is a space painted all in white. Materials and structure of the previous phase are kept and uninterrupted so that the addition acts as an extension rather than an insertion.

Francis Pelletier photographer