Exceptional House in the Middle of a Natural Forest | Robert Lachance

Five minutes from the village of Val-David, near Dufresne Regional Park, a jewel of a development is hidden up on a hill. So few of these properties, destined for true nature lovers, are left in the region.

This natural haven of some 50 acres hosts an exceptional residence, now for sale. Born from the imagination of artist Robert Lachance, this live-in sculpture tells a fascinating story of symbols and connections.

House-Sculpture

When visitors enter the house, their usual habits in discovering living spaces are completely overturned. Here, we do not decide where to go; instead, we are led through the spaces of the house by connections that are not functional but narrative. As we move slowly through this museum-house, our attention is drawn to every little detail. Organic beams slither across the living-room ceiling then explode into metal fingers that delve brutally into a wall. It is as if the wood and metal curves dance above our heads. As the artist explains, he wants to form his environment and bring it to life.

In the spirit of Kurt Schwitters’s Merzbau, this interior design reflects Lachance’s appropriation of the space both artistically and personally. Aside from the original shapes of the different architectural elements that inspired the structure of the house, the walls feature massive sculptures by the artist perfectly integrated into the decor.

The lighting fixtures no doubt are among the elements that perfectly express Lachance’s narrative architectural approach. Combining materials, textures and shapes, they capture the eye and offer an invitation to follow the cabalistic signs that they seem to project into the space. Thus, the artist’s architectural intervention is almost graphic in form, as if he wanted to literally draw a personal story with beams, posts, and ceramic tiles.