bourgeois / lechasseur clads artists’ residence outside a québec village in white cedar

bourgeois / lechasseur architects has completed an artists’ residence in the quiet village of saint-jean-port-joli, québec, which, known for its longstanding woodcarving tradition, has been a rallying point for artists from various locations around the world. the result of a an architectural competition launched in 2017, centre est-nord-est serves as a new facility open to artists looking for inspiration along the st lawrence river. marrying tradition and contemporary architecture, the québec-based architects have designed a monolithic volume reminiscent of traditional barns, clad in locally harvested white cedar and topped with sheet metal on its huge sloping roofs.all images by adrien williams

bourgeois / lechasseur architects has designed the 951 sqm structure, which stands on the outskirts of the village, as a long monolithic volume that combines the studio’s intimate knowledge of québec’s rural landscapes with their modern-day vision. the front entrance to the artists’ residence is located off the main highway, delicately inserted in the narrow wood-lined façade, which leads to a double-height multifunctional volume. the true heart of the project, this space serves as a meeting point, lounge, exhibition area, community kitchen, and dining room, while a voluptuously curved spiral staircase leads to a quieter library zone.

carefully framed skylights are carved out of the sloping ceiling, flooding the upper level with natural light while the main floor is mostly lit through large openings that lead to an adjacent court. five identical, yet flexible, live-in studios with sleeping mezzanines for the residents are located towards the back of the building. as floor requirements vary widely from one discipline to another, the expandable workspace was planned to be highly flexible and adaptable to individual pursuits whether sculpture, performance art, photography, or others. individual studios are reached through a central corridor, which isolates them from the livelier public areas towards the front. three shared workshops (wood, metal and assembly) are also located along the corridor.

the building’s exterior is clad in locally harvested white cedar, while sheet metal protects the huge sloping roofs – reminders of farm buildings in rural québec. given the institution’s modest budget, interior finishes are mostly plywood, gypsum boards and polished concrete. acoustically treated gypsum panels were installed on some of the angled ceilings to keep sound reverberation to a minimum.

project info:

name: centre est-nord-est, artist residence

architect: bourgeois / lechasseur architects

location: saint-jean-port-joli, québec, canada

client: est-nord-est

team: olivier bourgeois, régis lechasseur, romy brosseau, pascale ouellet-dompierre, valérie gauthier, isabelle auclair, maxime rousseau

structural/civil engineer: génie-plus

mechanical engineer: LGT

general contractor: marcel charest et fils inc.

project manager: michel roberge, norda stelo

spiral staircase manufacturer: métal dumex

area: 951 m2

budget: $2.3 million CAD

resident artist (studio appearing in photographs): amanda smith (united states)