In Quebec, Canada, multidisciplinary firm DKA has designed a contemporary family home that takes inspiration from the region’s agricultural buildings while creating a bright, welcoming place for a young couple and their two children.
Familiar forms such as gable roofs, metal roofing, and simple cladding give the house a timeless appearance that feels at home within the surrounding countryside. Instead of copying traditional farm buildings, the design borrows their character and proportions while introducing clean modern lines.
Three Distinct Volumes Shape the Home
The house is organized into three separate volumes, each planned around the family’s daily needs, the orientation of the site, and the movement of the sun. This arrangement creates a natural flow from one area to another while allowing every part of the home to benefit from changing daylight throughout the day.
Ceiling heights also vary between the different spaces, creating moments that feel open and spacious alongside more intimate rooms. Together, these changes add variety to the interior without interrupting the home’s clean and uncomplicated layout.
A Quiet Position Surrounded by Nature
One of the home’s biggest advantages is its generous setback from the street. By sitting farther away from passing traffic, the family enjoys greater privacy while reducing outside noise, creating a more peaceful atmosphere.
The light monochromatic exterior also allows the colors of the surrounding landscape to stand out throughout the seasons. Trees, lawns, and changing skies become the focus, helping the architecture sit comfortably within its rural setting.
Living Spaces Filled With Light
The main living area sits at the center of the house and opens completely to the outdoors on both sides. Large expanses of glazing invite daylight inside while creating uninterrupted views across the property.
A crisp white interior enhances this brightness, reflecting natural light throughout the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces, and creating airy atmosphere throughout.
Outdoor Living Extends the Home
Just beyond the interior is a covered outdoor entertaining area designed to be used throughout much of the year. It combines a dining space, comfortable lounge, and barbecue area beneath one roof, making it easy to host family meals or relax outside.
A pathway links this entertaining zone with the swimming pool and the expansive rear yard, allowing movement between each outdoor space while keeping the landscape open and inviting.
A Backyard Designed for Relaxation
The swimming pool sits within a large open lawn, giving the family plenty of room for outdoor activities while maintaining uninterrupted views across the property.
Alongside the pool, a sun patio provides space for loungers, creating an ideal spot to enjoy warm afternoons or simply take in the surrounding scenery.
Peaceful Private Spaces
The home’s bedroom continues the simple architectural language found throughout the house. A vaulted ceiling adds height and openness, while windows frame views across the surrounding landscape without sacrificing privacy.
The placement of the openings reflects the home’s overall design approach, offering selected views that bring nature indoors while maintaining a calm and comfortable atmosphere.
A Bathroom With a View
The bathroom embraces the landscape in a quieter way through the placement of a freestanding bathtub beside a large window. Natural light fills the room while offering relaxing views outside during a soak.
Simple finishes and uncluttered surfaces allow the outlook to remain the main feature, continuing the home’s restrained and timeless interior palette.
Connecting Every Level
Located beside the bedroom and bathroom, the staircase provides access to the basement while keeping the private areas closely linked. Its placement supports the home’s straightforward circulation, making movement between levels feel effortless.
A Different Character After Dark
As evening arrives, exterior lighting brings new attention to the home’s architecture. Soft illumination highlights the gable roofs, monochromatic finishes, and surrounding landscaping without overwhelming the simplicity of the design.
Floor Plans
The floor plans reveal how the home’s three-volume arrangement creates a logical flow between public and private spaces while responding to the site’s orientation. They also show how the open central living area connects directly with the outdoor entertaining spaces, reinforcing the relationship between the house and the landscape.
DKA created a family home that takes familiar agricultural forms and adapts them for contemporary living without losing their timeless appeal. Bright interiors, generous outdoor spaces, and an uncomplicated layout work together to create a home that embraces natural light, celebrates the surrounding landscape, and offers a welcoming place for family life in rural Quebec.