Architecture that Blends into the Landscape

Perched on a steep slope overlooking Lake Fournelle in Saint-Hippolyte, Intervalle by Atelier BOOM-TOWN turns a difficult site into the core of its design story. Instead of resisting the terrain, the residence flows with it — unfolding across two levels that frame shifting views of the Laurentian forest and water below.

Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Fournelle lake
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Designed as an interplay of contrasts, the home is composed of two distinct volumes clad in light and dark wood. This tonal dialogue grounds the building in its wooded surroundings while clearly expressing its geometry. The name Intervalle captures this essence — suggesting both a pause in time for reflection and the physical gap between forms, where light, air, and movement weave through the architecture.

Main bedroom and rooftop
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Detail
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

The upper level, spanning 950 square feet, houses the main living spaces in an open plan that connects kitchen, dining, and lounge. Floor-to-ceiling glazing opens the interior to panoramic lake views, while a natural wood ceiling follows the slope of the roof, amplifying the sense of height and warmth. At its heart, a dark fireplace anchors the space, balanced by polished concrete floors that lend a modern, tactile calm. A screened veranda and terrace extend daily living into the landscape, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out.

Kitchen
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Living room
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Living room / dining room
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Below, the 1,580-square-foot lower level is dedicated to private functions — a primary suite with ensuite, two additional bedrooms, a second bathroom, and flexible areas for work or leisure. Thanks to the natural drop of the land, each room connects directly to the surrounding terrain, blurring the transition from architecture to nature.

Bathroom
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

South side, detail
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

West side
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

A series of terraces cascades down the hillside, offering multiple ways to inhabit the site — from elevated lake lookouts to secluded spots among the trees. The architecture’s strength lies in its restraint: proportions are measured, materials are natural and refined, and integration with the landscape feels effortless.

North side
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Aerial view, magic hour
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

South side
Photo credit: Vincent Brillant, photographe

Intervalle ultimately reinterprets the archetype of lakeside living in Quebec. It’s a residence that balances openness and intimacy, structure and serenity — where architecture becomes not an object on the land, but a quiet moment within it.

Atelier BOOM-TOWN

Historically, a Boomtown house has been associated with 1890–1920 ‘mushroom’ towns created near industrial complexes and mines. It is easily recognized by its simple facade and square shape. Its roof is flat, or nearly flat, which was an innovation for the time. The popularity of the Boomtown house was mainly due to its increased space and low construction costs.

A century later, l’atelier BOOM-TOWN proposes a rereading of the architecture of human-scale buildings, based on the original principles of the Boomtown house: simplicity and efficiency. Working with space, light, and matter, l’atelier BOOM-TOWN designs contemporary houses, adapted to modern living.