Chalet Desmarais

Daoust Design

Short description

CCrafted Stillness in the Forest

A Home Rooted in Place

Nestled deep in the Laurentian forest, along the quiet shoreline of Lac Desmarais in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, this new construction is more than a lakeside retreat. It’s a contemporary home that reinterprets time-honored building methods with a modern sensitivity, crafted for a family of five seeking both escape and connection.
The project was shaped by its steep, wooded terrain and by the clients’ vision for a calm, enduring space. Their request was clear: design a generous yet grounded residence that blends with the forest and feels timeless from day one. Our approach honored that brief by placing craftsmanship, material integrity and spatial cohesion at the heart of the process.

Structure as Language

From the moment of arrival, the home avoids spectacle. The massing follows the natural slope, broken into staggered volumes that preserve the existing tree canopy. Approaching from above, visitors enter through the upper level—an intentional inversion that places them among the treetops before revealing the view. This subtle disruption of expectation sets the tone for a home designed to be discovered gradually.
What truly defines the architecture is its structural clarity. Rather than rely on hidden steel frames or standard timber studs, the house was built using traditional timber frame construction. The exposed skeleton, crafted from square-cut beams and assembled with joinery techniques rarely seen in contemporary homes, establishes both rhythm and permanence. It allows for vast open spaces without the use of mechanical fasteners and gives each room a sense of quiet strength.
Every post and beam have both purpose and presence. The result is not nostalgic, but architectural in the truest sense: the frame becomes the language through which space is expressed.

Materiality and Atmosphere

The material palette emerged from the site itself. A deep spruce green coats the exterior cladding, camouflaging the building against its surroundings. That same tone weaves through the interiors, reappearing on interior doors, millwork and selecting furniture elements. This creates continuity between architecture and landscape.
Inside, textures layer subtly across a quiet, cohesive palette. White oak floors laid in chevron, lime-based wall finishes, natural stone and soft woven fabrics combine to evoke a sense of permanence without excess. No surface shouts. The materials speak softly, with warmth and authenticity.
Lighting was curated with care. Whether recessed, sculptural or integrated into custom furniture, each source was selected to support atmosphere—offering depth and nuance throughout the day and across seasons. Every detail was treated as essential, not ornamental.

Fluidity and Function

The plan was developed to serve a range of family dynamics—from solitude to gathering. Communal spaces are expansive and open to the lake, while private zones are placed with intention. All bedrooms are similarly sized and located to foster privacy and autonomy. Circulation is fluid, uninterrupted by unnecessary partitions or abrupt transitions.
The kitchen, dining and living spaces unfold as a continuous volume, connected yet distinct in experience. Built-ins define zones without breaking flow. Throughout, views to the outside are prioritized—never overly framed, just present, as they would be in a forest clearing.
Even the entry sequence was designed for sensory clarity. Walking through the treetops, one arrives at a calm threshold. From there, the home unfolds not as a series of rooms, but as a sequence of moments.

Durability by Design

Sustainability here is quiet but deliberate. Passive solar orientation, cross-ventilation, deep roof overhangs and thermal massing all contribute to a comfortable indoor environment with minimal intervention. There are no elaborate mechanical systems, just smart planning and respectful building.
Materials were chosen for longevity and low environmental impact. Locally sourced white oak, stone and lime-based finishes ensure durability and low toxicity. During construction, excavation was minimized, and no mature trees were removed. The home’s footprint was adjusted to accommodate the forest, not the other way around.
By avoiding over-programming and maximizing adaptability, the house ensures relevance well beyond current trends. It is designed to require little—and give much—for generations.

Built to Belong

Chalet Desmarais is not a house built to impress at first glance. It is built to endure. To age with grace, and to feel relevant year after year. Its modernity lies in how it simplifies complexity, favors restraint over noise and invites life rather than performing it.
This is a project rooted in patience and intention—in craft, in coherence and in the quiet confidence that comes from building with care. It does not shout to be noticed. It simply belongs.
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Year: 2025
Scope: New Construction
Size: 7,685 sq.ft.