Chalet du ruisseau: Contemporary Residential Architecture in Quebec’s Eastern Townships

Chalet du ruisseau, designed by EM architecture, is a contemporary country house in Potton, Quebec. Completed in 2023, the project reinterprets the region’s vernacular architecture through modern design strategies that emphasize landscape integration, natural materials and sustainable construction. Located beside a forested stream, the residence offers a serene living environment defined by strong visual connections to nature.

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ROOTED IN VERNACULAR FORMS

The home’s two gabled volumes draw inspiration from traditional rural barns common to the Eastern Townships. EM architecture transforms this familiar silhouette into a contemporary composition through clean lines, refined detailing and a restrained palette of raw wood siding and metal roofing. A light connector links the two volumes while creating covered circulation and storage zones.

ARCHITECTURE ENGAGED WITH THE LANDSCAPE

The sloping, wooded site shaped by the stream dictated the house’s orientation and massing. The project preserves mature trees and uses large glazing surfaces to maximize natural views, daylight and seasonal variation. Outdoor terraces extend the interior living space and enhance the connection between the house and the surrounding forest.

Inside, the architectural layout is anchored by a central shiplap-clad core that organizes circulation and utility spaces. The interiors feature mid-century modern furniture, warm textures and carefully curated materials that create a refined yet welcoming atmosphere.

A MODEL OF MODERN COUNTRY LIVING

Chalet du ruisseau reflects the growing interest in contemporary rural architecture that balances comfort, natural integration and aesthetic restraint. Through thoughtful siting, material sensitivity and a deep respect for the site, EM architecture delivers a home that is both modern and timeless.

Project Credit

Project name: Chalet du ruisseau
Location: Potton, Québec
Completion date: 2023
Architecture and interior design: EM architecture
General contractor: Construction Laplume
Structural engineering: Les structures Ultratec
Photographer: Raphaël Thibodeau

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EM architecture is a Montreal-based studio working at the intersection of architecture and interior design. Led by architect Emilie Bédard and designer Maria Rosa Di Ioia, the practice is recognized for its human-scaled approach and its commitment to spaces shaped by clarity, precision and quiet emotional resonance. Over more than a decade of practice, the studio has developed a body of work distinguished by its attention to light, materiality and circulation, as well as an enduring dialogue with clients and the specific character of each site. The studio’s projects pursue a lived-in simplicity where beauty emerges from thoughtful detailing and an architecture attentive to everyday life.