Quinzhee Architecture creates, in addition to a simple shelter, an immersive experience in the heart of nature that extends over several levels to offer visitors spaces of tranquility and privacy in the forest, as well as walls that allow climbing training or a spa that invites relaxation.
The project organizes the different rooms on two levels, the lower one is the one that presents climbing as a central element, and the upper one, accompanied by a terrace, offers spaces to share and cook, rest and reflect while those who live there benefit from the views and light of the mountain.
"Blok" by Quinzhee Architecture. Photograph by Adrien Williams.
Project description by Quinzhee Architecture
Blok is a rustic retreat ideally located at the top of a natural climbing wall in the heart of Mount Le Maelstrom in Lac-Beauport, offering a perfect refuge for climbers.
With its asymmetrical shape and grey stucco materiality, this monolithic volume with angular edges evokes a climbing block. The irregularly arranged openings resemble climbing holds, creating a façade that, like a climbing route, guides the gaze and the ascent. Inside this square plan, heated spaces coexist with sheltered outdoor areas, increasing the living spaces’ surface area, while providing an immersive experience in the heart of nature.
Entering through the truncated corner of the volume, one first discovers the outdoor spaces, protected from the elements and prying eyes. On the ground floor, walls allow climbers to practice their sport, while a spa invites relaxation between training sessions. Upstairs, the terrace provides a convivial space for cooking and sharing meals, all while contemplating the surrounding nature.
The heated spaces also extend over multiple levels. On the ground floor, the bedrooms enjoy the calm and intimacy of the surrounding forest. Upstairs, the living spaces benefit from abundant light and unobstructed views of the landscape. Perched above the kitchen, a spacious mezzanine accommodates a larger number of guests. All the spaces are clad in wood, creating a harmonious visual continuity between the interior and exterior living areas, while contrasting with the raw, mineral character of the building’s envelope.
