Virgin Vineyard House by LAMAS Architecture – A Contemporary Residence Rooted in Quebec’s Landscape

A House Between Forest, Vineyard, and Lake

Nestled between an old logging road and a working hillside vineyard, the Virgin Vineyard House by LAMAS Architecture embodies a delicate balance between contemporary residential design and Quebec’s rural heritage. Located in the Eastern Townships, overlooking the serene Lake Massawippi, the home was envisioned as a long-term residence for a client seeking a space that respects the surrounding vineyard while offering the flexibility to age in place and welcome her daughter’s growing family.

The site itself carries history: it derives its name from the ruins of a former farm that once stood above the property, adding layers of cultural and spatial narrative to the new residence.

Inspired by Stone Walls and Agricultural Landscapes

The design draws inspiration from the fieldstone walls common in Quebec’s agricultural landscapes. Stones gathered from the site create a defining feature—first shaping the landscape as a boundary wall, then continuing seamlessly to form the north wall of the house. This wall not only protects the home from the road and cold northern winds but also anchors the architectural narrative, acting as the backbone around which the residence unfolds.

Clipped onto this stone wall is a linear timber structure that shelters the living spaces. The 155-foot-long residence stretches gracefully across the site, with the south-facing façade opening wide toward panoramic vineyard and lake views under a large protective overhang.

Spatial Organization and Sawtooth Geometry

The house is carefully organized:

• Private bedrooms are located at either end of the linear plan.
• Central gathering spaces—living, dining, and kitchen—form the heart of the home.

Each room is slightly rotated to frame unique views of Lake Massawippi, creating a subtle sawtooth formation in plan. This geometric shift ensures privacy while generating semi-enclosed outdoor recesses beneath the roof overhang, perfect for moments of reflection amid the vineyard.

Two striking voids define the home’s experience:

1. A courtyard that captures the angle of the old logging road.
2. A roof deck offering sweeping views of the vineyard and lake.

Together, these voids enhance the dialogue between architecture, topography, and heritage landscape.

Materiality, Sustainability, and Local Craft

The Virgin Vineyard House celebrates the relationship between stone and wood tectonics. While the north wall is a massive, heavily insulated stone structure, the rest of the house relies on light wood framing—engineered lumber, deep joists, and hemlock cladding.

On the south façade, wood mullions are employed structurally to support a high-performance triple-glazing system, ensuring natural light, energy efficiency, and durability in Quebec’s climate.

Sustainability was integral to the design:

• Locally sourced materials, including hemlock, fieldstone, and glazing systems.
• Geothermal ground-source heating powered by Quebec’s carbon-free municipal electricity.
• Low embodied energy through extensive use of wood construction.
• Integration of native flora in collaboration with a local horticulturist to restore natural habitat.

This careful integration of sustainable building practices, regional craftsmanship, and architectural clarity makes the house not just a dwelling but a cultural and ecological statement.

The Virgin Vineyard House by LAMAS Architecture is more than a modern residence—it is a dialogue between heritage and innovation, landscape and architecture, sustainability and craft. By grounding the home in local traditions and materials while embracing modern techniques, the architects created a timeless residence that harmonizes with Quebec’s natural and cultural landscape.

All Photographs are works of Felix Michaud