In the dense forests of Wentworth-Nord, Canada, a remarkable architectural intervention demonstrates a profound dialogue between built form and untamed landscape. Le Noroît, a contemporary residential project for a family of four, is the work of Guillaume Pelletier Architecte, a firm known for its modest yet powerful approach. Perched delicately on a small rocky plateau, the home is a study in restraint and structural daring, appearing to float as a serene, suspended oasis above the natural escarpment.
The project’s genius lies in its spectacular arrangement of volumes. Drawing inspiration from vernacular architecture , the home’s form is both familiar and strikingly avant-garde. The three-floor building features its lower two levels in alignment, while the cantilevered third level is rotated. This dramatic pivot is not merely an aesthetic choice; it serves a crucial functional role by providing safe and integrated access to the mountaintop while also sheltering the main entrance below. This configuration means the structure rests lightly on the terrain, a careful gesture to protect the sensitive natural site and its existing bedrock.
Behind this project’s apparent simplicity lies a web of regulatory, structural, and construction complexity. Achieving the illusion of weightlessness required a tour de force of engineering, making the completed residence a point of immense pride for the entire team, including general contractor Sarrazin Construction. The result is a home that feels both solid and ephemeral, a permanent yet delicate feature of the forest.
Inside, the interior design is intentionally streamlined to foreground the connection to nature. Ample picture windows flood the living spaces with abundant natural light and facilitate passive solar heating, reducing the home’s energy footprint. The material palette is muted and natural, bringing the interior into perfect harmony with the surrounding forest. Walls are finished in rich red cedar, while the exterior of the upper volume is clad in dramatic burnt timber, using the ancient Japanese Yakisugi technique for durability and a striking, textured black finish that complements the black metal roof.
Le Noroît is more than a house; it is a carefully calibrated instrument for living. It forges powerful connections—between the top and base of the escarpment, between inhabitants and the majestic vista, and between sustainable architectural projects and the breathtaking Canadian wilderness. For the clients, Audrey Langlois and Martin Boucher, it is the realization of a dream: a family life lived in authentic communion with nature, framed by a work of respectful and sustainable architectural projects.