cedar shingle-wrapped 'waterhouse' dots forest clearing in quebec

‘waterhouse’ stands among the ferns and wildflowers of quebec

Quebecois architecture studios oyama and Julia Manaças Architecte complete this Waterhouse project within a forest clearing in Canada. The home introduces a composed arrangement of three volumes, each tuned to program and terrain.

While the design team was first visiting the site, they noted the overwhelming presence of ferns, wildflowers, boulders, and rolling ground. This established a strong baseline for the home’s design. Early decisions center on creating a single-family residence suited to daily life for one person while allowing comfortable stays for visiting family and guests.

images © Alex Lesage

clustered volumes by oyama and Julia Manaças

Julia Manaças Architecte and oyama organize the Waterhouse’s clustered composition so that from the road, the first element is the blind wall of the Atelier. Its pyramidal interior accommodates a workshop and winter parking, with a mezzanine tucked above for storage. The geometry produces a calm, grounded surface toward the entry path.

To the right, the Tower extends three levels upward, each floor holding a guest bedroom and bath. The lowest level sinks partly into the earth, forming an office with an unusual view across the ground plane. A footbridge links this volume to the roof terrace above the Great Room.

Waterhouse arranges three volumes to shape a forest clearing in Sutton

the trio of shingle-clad volumes

The Great Room anchors everyday life. Oriented due south, it aligns with sunlight and the most compelling features of the terrain. A thickened interior wall gathers the fireplace, storage, and ventilation systems while defining a quiet boundary between shared areas and the main bedroom suite.

Together, the three volumes form a measured ensemble, each one scaled to its function yet contributing to a unified spatial field. The arrangement encourages movement through varied thresholds rather than a fixed linear route.

Waterhouse uses a single exterior material, cedar shingles, to bring coherence to the distinct shapes. Familiar in the region, the shingles soften edges and create a steady surface across shifting geometries.

the design by oyama and Julia Manaças Architecte responds directly to the landscape

interiors encircle a courtyard

Between the volumes, an internal courtyard emerges. Its oak-clad surfaces continue the timber language inward, creating a tempered zone for circulation. One side receives visitors through a narrow passage between the Atelier and Tower, while the far end opens to a deck that frames long views through the clearing.

Glazing on three sides brings daylight deep into the transitional hall, which also holds a vestibule, laundry, WC, and communal sink. The green roof above settles the volume into the surrounding vegetation, reinforcing the project’s careful integration with its setting.

Inside, long sightlines give way to smaller framed moments as one moves between volumes. From outside, the assemblage shifts with each step, dissolving from a clear set of sculptural forms into a group of bodies that echo the topography.

a south-facing Great Room opens with steady light and framed outward views