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T HOUSE: A Modern Country Retreat in Quebec

Designed for a busy urban Montreal family, T HOUSE offers the family a retreat in the country in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Natalie Dionne Architecture was inspired by the writings of Pliny the Younger, whose descriptions of two Italian villas conjure the imagination to “contemplate one’s place in the surrounding landscape.”

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Situated high up a hillside on a plateau, the home is surrounded by forests of trees with views of the valleys below and mountains in the distance.

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Referencing the inspiration, the residence is made up of two volumes – a 2-story cube clad in wood siding and a single story rectangular structure, covered in composite cement panels, where one side cantilevers out over the hill.

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Nestled between the two volumes is space enclosed by glass panels on two sides. The empty space reveals views of the Appalachian Mountains on the far side.

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The home’s plan is arranged in the shape of a letter ‘T’, with one part accommodating the living room, one part the guest rooms, and another part housing the kitchen with master bedroom above it. Central to these three parts is the dining area that pulls the entire design together.

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Water was important to the design and includes a pool, water garden, and a nearby stream that flows to a pond below.

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Built-in furniture was incorporated, like the fireplace and bookshelves in the living room.

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White oak paneling is used on the walls of the interior, bringing a bit of the rustic outdoor vibe inside. The floors are made of concrete and natural stone that’s equipped with hydronic heating to warm the space during colder months.

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Photos by Marc Cramer, courtesy of v2com.biz.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.