Centre de Services Le Bonnallie: architecture sculpted by the landscape

Immersed in a breathtaking landscape, the Centre de Services Le Bonnallie is a sensitive and poetic intervention designed by Anne Carrier Architecture, where natural materials, light, and topography give life to a living, ever-changing architectural form, in symbiosis with the territory.

A work between nature, form, and light

Among the most fascinating contemporary architectural projects in Quebec, the Centre de Services Le Bonnallie stands out for its deep connection with the surrounding landscape. Designed by Anne Carrier Architecture, this building redefines the dialogue between opacity and transparency, interior and exterior, following the topography in such a harmonious way that it seems carved directly into the earth. The volume rests along a wooded slope, embracing the view of Lake Stukely, with a structure that gently rises like a wave, echoing the natural curves of the terrain. The alternation of warm materials and natural colors gives identity to the space, tracing clear yet fluid boundaries between its functions. This project reflects an architectural vision where form and place are inseparably linked.

Architecture that follows the topography

Located along Camping Road, in the heart of a forest overlooking the lake, the Centre de Services Le Bonnallie is structured in a main volume that delicately follows the natural contours of the ground, merging with the outdoor amphitheater. The roof gradually rises, like a landscape bending towards the sky, revealing halfway a magnificent panoramic view of the lake. The building decisively changes direction, marking the main entrance and challenging the slope below. From there, the view opens towards the island and Mont Chauve, in an architectural movement that is almost a choreographic gesture. In this interplay of solids and voids, the structure does not impose its presence but integrates with respect and lightness into the natural environment.

Functional spaces and livable landscapes

The organization of the interiors is designed to adapt to the functions without ever interrupting the continuity with the landscape. The kitchen is hidden from view, while the resting and discovery areas are developed on three levels with distinct geometries: an area for sports equipment oriented towards the lake, a flexible patio that manages the flow of visitors, and finally a landscape-roof sloping upwards, designed to open up to the sky and modulate natural light. The interior and exterior spaces interact through a network of walkways, stairs, and covered paths, reminiscent of the lightness and permeability of a gazebo. This fluid network allows natural and intuitive movements, enriching the visitor's experience at every stage of the journey.

Materials, textures, and light in harmony with the site

The use of materials is central to the project's poetics. Local woods, slate, gabion walls, and indigenous vegetation intertwine to create an authentic and sensory environment. The exterior cladding in Canadian cedar – specially created for the project – is applied in alternating strips, recessed or in relief, generating playful variations of light and shadow throughout the day. As the sun sets, the storage areas transform into gigantic lanterns, thanks to the effect of light on the perforated surfaces. This attention to detail culminates in the use of a lighter cedar for the main openings, evoking the living materiality of nature: like the skin and pulp of a cut fruit, each surface reveals its own identity over time. The architecture comes alive, reflecting the evolution of light and seasons.

Gallery

Service center architecture with wooden roof

Wooden architecture with garden roof and seats on the slope

Contemporary architecture set on a slope

Contemporary wooden architecture overlooking the panorama

Contemporary architecture in Canadian nature

Terrace with wooden structure and metal balustrade

Service center with contemporary wooden forms

Wooden interior with green seats and glass walls open onto the landscape

PEOPLE

Anne Carrier Architecture

Avenue Bégin, Lévis, QC, Canada