The Saltbox passive house is a main residence designed for a family of four and built on a steeply sloping site in Bromont, in the Eastern Townships.
The house's massing is inspired by the historic “Saltbox” typology, widespread in the Eastern Townships and New England, and recalls the region's built heritage. The “L”-shaped floor plan is south-facing to promote passive solar heating and panoramic views over the valley. By building the rear part of the main level on garden level, and opting for a roof pitch that follows that of the land, the house hugs the topography of the site and remains unobtrusive from the street. The three-level construction, carved out of the mountain, minimizes the need for retaining walls visible from the road. The materials used are simple and durable: the retaining walls are built with excavation stone, the main cladding is white painted wood, and the entrance section is burnt cedar.
Inside, the daytime spaces are organized around the central block, which groups together the mudroom, kitchen, pantry and powder room. The white volume backs onto the 2nd-floor corridor that serves the bedrooms and small boudoir.
Photo: Raphaël Thibodeau
