Le Pavillon du Lac

Nestled amidst dense foliage, Pavillon du Lac is a guest house designed by the Daoust Lestage studio on a small plot of land on the edge of an ancient forest near the city of Quebec.

Despite its position, the pavilion is a far cry from traditional, rustic lakeside cabins. It is wrapped in glass walls that run from floor to ceiling and along the entire length of all four sides of the structure. This design immerses guests into a filter-free experience of nature. Natural light illuminates everything and the boundaries between forest and architecture are blurred. While tree branches, grassy slopes, and rippling waves become intrinsic elements of the structure, guests enjoy all the comforts of the interior: warmth, shelter, comfort, and relaxation.

The pavilion’s glass walls stretch between floor and ceiling which consist of two thin slabs of pale stone. The ceiling extends beyond the glazing to become a portico that wraps two sides of the pavilion. This feature is both a tribute to Le Corbusier and Mies Van Der Rohe, and a functional design element that mitigates weather conditions by sheltering the venue from excessive sun, wind, rain, and snow. The daytime effect of homogenous, pervasive lighting is also created at night, thanks to 5-cell Laser Blade High Contrast luminaires subtly scattered on the ceiling, so that the light appears natural, as if it had no artificial source. In line with the project’s minimalist design, the architects also chose the exterior version of the luminaire, i.e. Laser Blade InOut, to illuminate the portico, thus maintaining a sense of formal continuity throughout the space.