Occupying a small strip of land along the St. Lawrence River, the municipality of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is known as the gateway to Charlevoix, a mountainous region blanketed in lush greenery. In January 2018, a young developer asked Quebec-based architects Bourgeois / Lechasseur to design an eco-resort that would give visitors a heightened experience of the area’s natural beauty. For each guest suite, the team specified a geodesic dome, which was adapted for Canada’s harsh winters. “We wanted to design something that was based on minimalism, elegance, and a connection to nature,” says associate architect Olivier Bourgeois. The result—so far—is a cluster of three prefabricated 540-square-foot domes that perch on the mountainside atop wooden platforms (the developer plans to add 10 more units). Assembled on-site, each is formed out of triangular steel panels that are covered by a pale gray PVC membrane. The interiors consist of a heated concrete floor, a service area with a hidden kitchenette and bathroom, and a prefabricated stair (typically used for nautical applications), which leads up to a second, small bedroom. With their serene river views and south-facing windows that admit generous daylight, the domes succeed in creating an experience in line with Petite-Rivière-Saint-François’s motto: “Beautiful to see! Beautiful to live!”
Dômes Charlevoix by Bourgeois / Lechasseur Architectes
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