Maison de la Coulée douce, an essential retreat in the Canadian landscape

Designed by La Nony FAMILI and Le Local Design, Maison de la Coulée douce stands out as a measured architecture deeply rooted in its context.

Set within the Canadian woodland landscape of Sutton and resting on a sloping site overlooking a pond, this multigenerational residence unfolds in a simple, elongated form. Its orientation is not accidental but intended to maximize natural light and preserve as much of the site’s integrity as possible, limiting tree removal.

Maison de la Coulée douce, a residence tailored to everyday life

At the core of the project lies a rare condition of design continuity: a second collaboration with the same clients. This established relationship made it possible to move beyond the initial phase of defining functional requirements, addressing instead the clients’ habits and daily rhythms. The house thus becomes a device calibrated to everyday life, capable of accommodating the complexity of multigenerational living.

Central to the design approach was a reflection on the emotions the inhabitants wished to experience daily within their domestic space. “I like to begin a project by asking clients how they want to feel in their home,” explains Aza Lussier, associate designer at La Nony FAMILI. “Do they want a space that calms, reassures, inspires? The desired emotion then becomes the guiding thread for all design decisions.”

From this stems the idea of an interior conceived as a welcoming space, conducive to rest, privacy, and moments of sharing. To this end, wall finishes, cotton, linen, rattan, handcrafted tiles, and wood contribute to creating an atmosphere of calm and relaxation, together with walls kept in light, neutral tones that serve as a backdrop to enhance the filtered light of the forest.

Microcement, also used in the master bedroom, introduces an almost archaic dimension, evoking vernacular traditions far removed from the residential context of Québec, and lending the spaces a timeless sensory quality. Arches and rounded forms run throughout the architecture, furnishings, and lighting, fostering a perceptual continuity that translates into spatial fluidity.

The heart of the house is the living area, where integrated microcement furnishings are arranged around a central fireplace. This element - both sculptural and functional - organizes the space, orienting it toward large openings onto the landscape. The kitchen appears as a more intimate, almost secluded space, yet still connected to the rest of the home through a careful interplay of volumes and thresholds. During construction, a budget revision required a radical transformation, leading to a reduction in volume and resulting in a more compact and discreet architecture.

Entirely realized in collaboration with local artisans and professionals from the Sutton region, the project reflects a design approach in which every choice engages in dialogue with its context.

>>> Discover Pine Flat Residence, a residence in dialogue with the forest designed by Faulkner Architects