Atelier Carle’s Hemlock-Clad Quebec House With Unconventional Layout

The SONO Residence by Atelier Carle sits on a mountainside site in Wentworth-North, Quebec. It was completed in 2025.

At 214 square metres, the project explores a material-forward language that responds to alpine conditions. The design weaves together multiple perspectives into a cohesive architectural conversation.

A long, folded board-formed concrete wall on the south facade acts as a climate and landscape device. This wall is free of windows except for the entry.

A northern faceted envelope of hemlock opens the interiors to panoramic forest views. Inside, an origami-like unfolded plan creates a fragmented sequence of spaces for two friends living together.

The design emphasizes moments of concealment and acoustic nuance.

Form, context, and structural strategy

The south-facing wall functions as both a resilient snow and water retainer and a landscape feature that evokes stratified bedrock. Its windowless condition is deliberate, prioritizing enclosure from the harsh winter.

The surrounding topography becomes a backdrop to the concrete texture. This bold material move is balanced by a northern façade crafted from structural and cladding hemlock.

The hemlock moderates daylight and frames expansive forest views. By sourcing hemlock locally, the project aligns with regional materials and minimizes transport impacts.

The design team collaborated with a carpenter and a structural engineer to adapt the timber for use adjacent to the concrete portion. This ensured compatibility between materials with different thermal and moisture demands.

The contrast between the heavy, monolithic concrete and the lighter, timber-clad envelope creates a tangible tension. This underscores the house’s relationship to the landscape while maintaining a coherent architectural language.

Materiality and craft: concrete, hemlock, and timber

Concrete, hemlock, and wood are allowed to resonate against one another through restrained plaster finishes. The exposed hemlock beams remain visible inside, pairing with a concrete floor that echoes the bedrock beneath the site.

A green-painted wood kitchen provides a focal point that frames exterior views. The minimal interior finishes let the raw materials breathe and age gracefully over time.

• Board-formed concrete for the south façade, emphasizing texture and geology-inspired tectonics
• Hemlock timber as structural and cladding skin on the north, sourced locally
• Exposed timber beams and a concrete slab to read as part of the landscape
• Minimal plaster finishes to emphasize material honesty
• Collaboration among Metric Construction, VCMa Engineering, and regional suppliers

Interior organization and spatial experience

The interior logic is driven by an origami-inspired unfolded plan. This generates a fragmented sequence of rooms designed for two friends living together.

The arrangement creates deliberate moments of visibility and concealment. Residents experience varying degrees of openness and privacy as they move through the home.

This approach supports acoustic modulation. Each space has a distinct atmosphere while maintaining coherence through material and color choices.

Inside, a green-painted wood kitchen anchors sightlines to the exterior landscape. The concrete floor grounds the façade’s rugged materiality.

The design embraces simplicity and restraint. The inherent properties of concrete and timber drive the spatial experience rather than heavy ornament.

Structure, construction, and collaboration

The project required a complex structural system and skilled on-site expertise. This was due to the fractional program and the need for precise detailing between the concrete wall and timber envelope.

The team coordinated closely among the architect, carpenter, structural engineer, and local suppliers. This ensured proper performance, moisture management, and buildability on a challenging site.

Construction progressed at a slower pace to achieve the sculptural precision of the origami-inspired plan. The integration of the wall, timber, and green kitchen framing was seamless.

Photographs by Felix Michaud highlight the interplay of light, texture, and massing. Project collaborators, including Metric Construction and VCMa Engineering, contributed to creating a resilient, context-aware home that reflects material-driven regional architecture.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Atelier Carle creates “unconventional layout” for hemlock-clad Quebec house