Mountain House on Mount Foster | Concrete Base & Timber Volum
#concretehouse #homedesign #architecture
Mountain House on Mount Foster | Concrete Base & Timber Volume Architecture
Perched on the steep terrain of Mount Foster in Bolton-Ouest, this contemporary residence embraces panoramic views of the Sutton Mountains while maintaining a compact and discreet architectural presence.
The design concept emerged instinctively: a mineral concrete base embedded into the slope, supporting a warm wooden volume that projects outward toward the landscape. Respecting the natural topography was central to the intervention. Rather than dominating the hill, the house settles into it — anchoring itself through board-formed exposed concrete that echoes the rocky outcrops scattered across the site.
Arrival begins at the lower level, where a bicycle workshop and carport introduce the home. From below, the elevated timber volume reveals itself gradually through the trees, stretching along the incline. The building is organized into two distinct volumes linked by a vertical circulation core, each responding directly to terrain conditions and functional requirements.
The architectural language is contemporary yet contextual. Full-height openings puncture the upper wooden mass, activating the façade and ensuring abundant natural light. A large minimalist glazed aperture at the cantilevered edge frames exceptional views, transforming the surrounding mountains into living artworks that shift with seasons and daylight.
Inside, the spaces are intentionally modest and intimate. Built-in furniture structures circulation and frames visual connections between rooms. A wood panel-and-batten ceiling rhythmically defines the main living floor, reinforcing warmth and proportion. A delicate filtering screen of wood and metal subtly guides movement toward the garden level below.
The lower floor houses a dormitory-workspace hybrid, animated by precisely carved wooden windows set into the exposed concrete base. These apertures bring controlled light into the thick mineral walls, reinforcing the dialogue between solidity and permeability.
Concrete, wood, and steel form a restrained material palette dictated by the site itself. The result is a hillside retreat that balances strength and softness — grounded in stone, elevated in timber, and continuously oriented toward the vast Quebec landscape.
Architects: atelier 11 17 - https://www.atelier1117.com/
Photo: raphael Thibodeau - https://www.raphaelthibodeau.com/
Location: Chemin Paramount, Bolton-Ouest, QC, Canada
Project Year: 2025
Category: Private Houses
Primary Building Material: Concrete, Wood
Building Area: 2500 sq ft
#mountainhouse #concretearchitecture #timberhouse #modernarchitecture #hillhouse House #CanadianArchitecture #minimalistdesign #contemporaryhome #natureinspired #architecturaldesign