"The McManus residence, on the scenic shores of The Lake of Two Mountains, is steeped in the history of Senneville, Québec. The picturesque waterfront village, on the western tip of the Island of Montreal, is a notable enclave for the region’s most affluent residents."
In 2012, when the current homeowners acquired the property, the original stone manor was falling to ruin and bringing with it the relatively unmoored addition that was constructed in the early 1970s. This presented the new homeowners with two options: tear the lot down and build from scratch, or take on the arduous task of restoring and preserving the historic property. The couple, who are both avid endurance athletes, unsurprisingly chose the latter.
To bring the ambitious project to life, the couple enlisted the help of renowned local architect Rémi Fortier. Fortier, who works primarily in the mountainous region of Mont-Tremblant is noted for his ability to cleverly incorporate natural and local materials into his designs. The resulting residence is perhaps one of the architect’s finest examples of the refined use of natural materials.
Inside the nearly 10,000-square-foot residence, almost no paint has been applied. Instead, the couple opted to use a natural limestone wall coating — an effect they fell in love with while on holiday in Provence. Wide-plank French Oak flooring is present throughout the residence and is temperature-regulated via the unique geothermal heating and cooling system which reaches beneath the ground to harness the Earth’s natural energy.
The use of local and French materials is a direct reflection of the longstanding connection between Senneville and France. The town motto, “Né sous le lys il fleurit sous l'érable” translates to born under the lily (of France) it flourishes under the maple (of Canada), forever ingraining the Village’s historic link to France and Canada.
Following in the same spirit, the McManus residence pairs French oak and Provencal wall coating with the very finest organic Canadian materials. Perhaps the most notable organic material in the home is the beautiful Douglas Fir. Imported from British Columbia this striking wood has been used to craft the massive timber beams in the stunning Great Room and to great effect in the intricate wooden detailing on the ceilings of the bedrooms, office, and ensuite bathroom off the primary suite.
With the state of the original manor, which was constructed in 1865, on the brink of complete disrepair there was no choice but to tear the structure down stone-by-stone in order to salvage any materials that could be repurposed. The original stone was carefully preserved and was used in the subsequent rebuilding of the original structure and in the incorporation of the new addition. This method of replacing the stones cleverly allowed for the new wiring and plumbing to be enclosed in the walls without sacrificing any of the home's original character.
When considering the addition, the homeowners wanted the home to feel like it was a natural part of the original structure. To execute this vision, Fortier was able to locate the same quarry where the exterior stone was extracted nearly two centuries before and source the very same material. The resulting masonry is absolutely seamless.
It’s the thoughtful incorporation of these materials which serves as a testament to the attention to detail and refinement found throughout the house. Even the exterior window frames, in keeping with local tradition, are made using Pierre St. Marc, Québec’s most prestigious natural limestone.
Though the home is steeped in history, it is unapologetically modern as well. Using state-of-the-art smart-home technology, many of the functions can be controlled directly from a smartphone. Each room, including the custom glass-enclosed wine cellar, is its own individual climate zone. This allows the homeowner to control the temperature of each room in the house at the touch of a button. Comfort and control were always paramount considerations in the construction of the residence its evidence is visible in nearly every detail.
The crown jewel, and admittedly the homeowner’s favourite room, is the palatial ensuite bathroom off the primary suite. Occupying the upper floor of the original structure’s stone-walled rotunda, the circular bath, with its vaulted ceiling, private fireplace, and breathtaking views of the estate and waterfront is the definition of a relaxing reprieve. The rotunda’s natural stone walls are softened by the warm Provencal wall coating, however, in this room, the homeowners elected to use a limestone/marble blend to protect the walls from moisture. The space is sumptuous yet serene and the perfect venue for a bath bathed in luxury.
Though the home is replete with wood, stone, and metal it embodies a feeling of warmth and elegance that challenges expectations. Many in the region have opted for a more modern interpretation of luxury but the homeowners of the McManus residence chose to carefully construct a home whose beauty is in harmony with its surroundings, reflective of its history, and timeless in its design. In the end, its spirit is not one of abundance but of a certain type of warmth that is simultaneously luxuriant and deeply familiar. Despite being constructed less than a decade ago, it's a home that feels as though it has been here, in this place, forever.
