a dwelling named ‘la colombière’ has been built as a retreat, perched in the forest of sutton, canada. initially the site was to be used as a small storage space by the first owner who was a lumberman, but later on, it was transformed into quiet refuge by the next owners.

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
all images © francis pelletier

 

 

the simple one-storey construction is spread across three floors. designed by YH2, in an attempt to preserve the surrounding nature, the footprint of the building remained untouched. nature and the growth of trees itself is the concept in which the architects followed; like a birdhouse, the structure grows vertically and develops an aerial volume reminiscent of tree canopies.

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
in an attempt to preserve the surrounding nature, the footprint of the building remained untouched

 

 

none of the greenery was excavated from site and as a reference to the forest itself, the architects chose the cladding of the building to be dark cedar. inside, the vertiginous interior is painted all in white, with the height is capitalized with small nooks and different leveled spaces connected by bridge walkways. each room opens into a vast vertical shaft punctured by an light stairwell on the ground floor, a simple space with exposed structure offers a direct link between rooms and towards the forest.

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
the exterior covered porch forms an intimate nook

 

 

on the upper floors, each room opens into a vast vertical shaft punctured by an ultra light stairwell, an aerial structure. lastly, the top of the dwelling features an exterior covered terrace forming a white perch from where the inhabitants can soak in the surroundings.

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
the interior walls are finished in white, with the materials and structure of the previous phase still remaining

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
on the upper floors, each room opens into a vast vertical shaft punctured by an ultra light stairwell

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
the site was initially built as a small storage space by the first owner

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
the retreat is comprised of three floors

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
the ground floor, a simple space with exposed structure offers a direct link between rooms and towards the forest’s soil

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
the exterior volume is covered in dark cedar

bird hut house by YH2 emerges from the trees in canadian forest
la colombière by YH2

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