Residence-office near a lake

The S-Pace 1628 project, designed by 1628 and located a few steps from Lake Memphremagog in Magog, was created to house the offices of an architectural firm, as well as to serve as the residence of its leaders. A light, sculptural, and continuous roof unites all the volumes like a plan deposited over the building. This roof gives the project a distinctive and harmonious appearance that is reminiscent of the surrounding hills. The shape of the roof is found inside the building; many of the ceilings take this form, which creates unique spaces.

Exterior - west side
Photo credit: Les Maximes

Concept

The objective of the project was to create a harmonious building in which the two main functions will be intertwined and will intersect, while being able to separate and be autonomous. Everything had to fit harmoniously into this particular sector of the Eastern Townships. For the owners, grouping of most of their activities in one place reduces everyday travel to a minimum, while making the most of a very pleasant environment.

Exterior - west side, from the street
Photo credit: Stéphane Groleau

Exterior - northwest side
Photo credit: Stéphane Groleau

Interior - master suite
Photo credit: 1628

Volumetry

The building is made up of three main ivory-coloured masonry (offices, residence, and garage) volumes, interconnected by the circulation spaces (main vestibule and staircase), and the hybrid space that is the multipurpose room. The residential volume is surmounted by a sub-volume slightly offset and covered with white metallic cladding. The thin roof is the articulated surface that connects all these volumes. The materials used are pale in color and have a light appearance that blends in well with the surrounding built environment.

Interior - offices
Photo credit: Les Maximes

Interior - secondary suite
Photo credit: Les Maximes

Exterior - northeast side
Photo credit: Stéphane Groleau

Interior spaces

The interior spaces are divided into flexible zones. The office area is placed near the main entrance, at the north end of the building. The living and private spaces are placed at the other end, away from the professional activities. Without having defined borders, these areas of work and life intertwine and intersect, yet can be separated to be autonomous. Sliding doors and partitions make it possible to transform the spaces according to the desired uses.

Exterior - east side
Photo credit: Stéphane Groleau

Interior - living rooms
Photo credit: Les Maximes

Interior - offices
Photo credit: Les Maximes

The office area is directly accessible from the main vestibule. In this sector, the rooms benefit from generous and open spaces with high articulated ceilings. The windows are concentrated on the west side, providing views of the lake. Patio doors create a direct link with the outdoors, and only screen partitions divide the space. From there, when activities are being held in the multipurpose room, the owners can directly access the residential area without crossing through it.

Interior - main entrance seen from multipurpose room
Photo credit: Les Maximes

Interior - multipurpose room
Photo credit: 1628

Exterior - covered veranda
Photo credit: Stéphane Groleau

The multipurpose room is the hub of the residence/office. It was designed to host receptions and exhibitions, and also to serve as a meeting room for the firm. It is directly accessible from the entrance vestibule via a pair of 4-meter-high raw steel doors. The room benefits from light coming from the east and opens towards the wooded part of the site. On the west side of the room, two retractable maple partitions can close the link between the space and the living rooms of the residence, making it a very flexible space adaptable to all uses. In addition, the large meeting table is modular and extendable, and can be removed very easily to free up the room.

Interior - multipurpose room Photo credit: Les Maximes 

Interior - multipurpose room
Photo credit: Les Maximes

Exterior - south side
Photo credit: Stéphane Groleau

About 1628

Founded in 1998 by François Parenteau and Annie Charest, 1628 Inc. is a creative firm in the fields of architecture, design, and garden design. Previously known as Charest + Parenteau, the company has continued to grow with its new entity since 2022. The firm's interventions are in the institutional, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. In parallel with practice, significant resources are devoted to research and development to ensure the firm's constant evolution. The versatility of the firm's internal structure allows it to participate in projects both locally and internationally. Several of the firm's projects have garnered attention in print media, have earned participation in exhibitions, and have received global recognition through awards in international architecture and design competitions.