The rocky topography and steep inclines surrounding the shores of Lac de la Cabane in St-Adolphe d'Howard in Canada's Quebec province played an instrumental role in MU Architecture's design for Estrade Residence, a private home for a family with kids. Although boasting and spread over all of 3,600 square feet, all design and construction elements of this home - which was completed in December of 2015 - conspire to create a cozy, welcoming and enveloping atmosphere for those lucky enough to experience it.

MU's project team - comprised of architects, Jean-Sébastien Herr, Charles Côté, Jean-Philippe Bellemare, Pierre-Alexandre Rhéaume and Floriane Deléglise - chose to use the home's exterior environment as their starting point, thereby incorporating and highlighting as much natural wood and stone within the construction as possible. Next, a multitude of unfolding layers which embrace the quirks of the site, the home is perched on a steep ridge directly overlooking the lake, reveal the outside to the inside and vice versa.

As such, the stones which were extracted during the site's construction process have been utilized to form the long wall which runs the length of the exterior's lower floor levels, anchoring the home into the ground. These same stones are also used throughout the garden's lush landscaping, creating its walls and pathways - including those around the outdoor Jacuzzi.