BROM Residence: Memory, Material, and the Landscape of Lac Brome

The Duty of Memory

Heritage architecture is never static—it lives in the tension between preservation and renewal. At Lac Brome, a beloved family estate, occupied for nearly a century, had fallen into disrepair. Instead of erasing the past or replicating it, the architects adopted a duty of memory. The crumbling foundations and original stone chimney were preserved and now serve as entry markers to the new home.

Guests arrive by passing through these remnants, a subtle but powerful act of remembrance, where old stone meets new walls. In this way, the architecture acknowledges what was lost while giving permanence to what endured.

Stone, Wood, and Continuity

The new residence is not one monolithic building but three interlocking pavilions—a composition that recalls the proportions of 19th-century rural architecture. Masonry anchors the design, grounding the home in the permanence of the land. Cedar roofs, reclaimed wood beams, and exposed structures carry forward the traditions of rural craftsmanship, while generous windows link interior life directly to the surrounding hills and lake.

Inside, cathedral-like spaces open to the horizon. Reclaimed beams divide rooms with quiet strength, while natural materials—stone, wood, limestone—create an atmosphere that is both contemporary and timeless. The palette resists excess, focusing instead on durability, tactility, and low environmental impact.

Suspended Temporality

The project is less about nostalgia than about continuity. The architecture blurs past and present, weaving fragile memory into a sustainable future. By preserving the foundations, reusing materials, and working within the cultural and natural rhythms of the Eastern Townships, the residence resists disposability. Instead, it offers a lesson in suspended temporality—the feeling that a home can belong equally to the past and to what is yet to come.

This approach places heritage not only in materials but in philosophy: that true durability is cultural as well as physical, rooted in how we choose to inhabit and honor the landscapes we inherit.

Credits

Project Name: BROM
Location: Lac Brome, Quebec, Canada
Year: 2024
Area: 692 m² / 7,450 ft²

Architecture & Design: AtelierCarle — Alain Carle (Founding Architect), Isaniel Lévesque, Baptiste Balbrick, James Jabbour, Sarah Mei Mousseau, Camille Denis
Collaborators: BBD Construction (General Contractor), VCMa (Structural Engineer), Antoine Assaf (Mechanical Engineer), Oscar Hacche (Landscape Architect), Taylor Lukian (Reclaimed Wood), Maçonnerie Sutton (Masonry), Groupe Sidex (Cladding), Gaulhofer (Windows), La Clef de Voûte (Millwork), Sistemalux & Lumenpulse (Lighting), Unik Parquet (Wood Flooring), Atelier B (Concrete), Béton Johnstone (Countertops), Élément bois (Custom Furniture)

Photography: Alex Lesage (alexlesage.com)