$ 3M ‘ health haven’ in the Laurentians
Quebec getaway takes family into nature, out of the modern world,
It’s described as “a haven of health and peace” — a fitting retreat in a new year like no other.
Surrounded by trees and protected land, the $ 3- million sustainable family home in Quebec’s Laurentians was designed to play up the natural setting and built with harmless, nontoxic materials.
“When you walk in, it is very calming and soothing … you just get inspired,” said listing agent Melanie Clarke. “You’re cosy, warm and comfy, but with the huge panoramic view of the outside through a magnificent wall of windows, you feel at one with the landscape.”
Called La Héronnière, the LEED gold- certified home on 8.7 acres “is a real haven of health and peace in a pure and natural environment,” Clarke added.
The two- level, gently curved and angled building sits on a rocky slope overlooking Lac Héronnière in WentworthNord, 75 minutes from Montreal. Located in a “prestigious development” surrounded by crown land that’s populated by “very, very pure and healthy lakes,” the property is blessed with just the sounds of nature. No motor boats, ATVs or motorcycles are allowed, said Clarke.
When the family of four envisioned their secondary residence, they wanted a country retreat where they could “disconnect completely from everything and ( reconnect) with their core values of true health,” she explained.
As an all- season getaway, it offers “a fantastic way for kids to be at one with nature,” whether exploring the network of trails nearby or enjoying the ski slopes 20 minutes away, Clarke added.
Architect Alain Carle designed the green home around a plateau that served as an outdoor living space. The interior was built on two levels with the open- plan main floor housing the living room, dining area and kitchen, and the blackclad structure above accommodating a den, primary suite, guest bedroom and bathroom.
An office and audio- recording room are also located on the main level which has radiantheated polished concrete floors and honey- coloured wood ceilings. The living room exudes warmth from a two- sided fireplace and features a movable wall of reclaimed timber that retracts to create a big, open room or slides over to enclose the space and hold in heat.
Stairs beside a half- wall in the kitchen lead down to a small greenhouse for herbs and seedlings with a work counter alongside south- facing windows and a door to outside.
When it was built by Écohabitations boréales in 2014, the house was at the front of a growing trend to build healthy homes, Clarke noted. Mainly heated with wood, it gets most of its energy needs from photovoltaic solar panels on the roof.
She said every component and system in the house, including soy- based urethane insulation, paint and glues, was selected to create a healthy, non- toxic and non- carcinogenic environment. Even the upholstery, curtains and built- in furniture are toxin- free.
There’s also an infrared sauna, considered to be a tool for detox and relaxation, and a meditation corner in the primary bedroom suite, the realtor pointed out.
For the builder, the project was complex and challenging, due to the unusual architecture of a building that’s almost 180 feet long with more than 50 corners, none of which was at right angles.
The architect sums up the concept on his website:
“Free from magnetic fields or wireless communication devices, the house reflects the owners’ desire to occupy a natural place in a harmonious and ‘ symbiotic’ way, where the site is perceived as ‘ the host.’ ”