Val des Monts is a private residence designed by Christopher Simmonds Architect Inc. It is located in Val-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada. A family cottage in the Gatineau hills infused with Canadiana shifts its way over the edge of a cliff to command views of the adjacent lake. This hideaway home is remarkable for more than just its beauty. The retreat is gently embedded in the Canadian Shield; the sleeping quarters firmly set in the rock while the cantilevered family rooms slowly emerge from this stone base. The house illustrates a warm approach to modernism; white oak boards wrap from wall to floor enhancing the elongated shape of the house and slabs of silver maple create the bathroom vanity. On the exterior, the cladding is composed of an open-joint eastern white cedar, while the stairwell is encased in steel; both are left unfinished to age with the elements. The modest entry visible from the road leads to a calculated, yet tranquil path entering from the forest-side of the house and moving through the space as it opens up onto the lakeside. I couldn’t think of anywhere better!
