La Héronnière: a spectacular project

This adventure began in the spring of 2012, when Alain Carle Architectes, the firm responsible for designing the building, called on Écohabitations boréales’ expertise in green building construction and alternative energy production technologies. The owners wanted their home to be virtually “self-sufficient” in terms of energy, so the building had to produce a quantity of energy roughly equivalent to its own consumption, and be able to stand on its own in the event of a power failure. We therefore proposed a multi-energy system based on photovoltaic solar panels and a biomass furnace. Needless to say, the architecture of the project had to evolve to incorporate these new features!

That said, the complexity of the project went far beyond the energy issue… Let’s be the judge: the building, with its unusual and complex shapes, was almost 180 feet long and had more than fifty corners, none of them right-angled!
For all these reasons, the preparation of the project required lengthy coordination between the structural engineer, the architect, the ventilation specialist, the window supplier and, of course, the contractor and his subcontractors. This type of unusual project is very demanding for everyone involved and, above all, requires meticulous preparation and flawless coordination.
And it was in June 2013, a year later, that the construction site actually began. An almost surgical blasting job got the ball rolling: examining the photos, we can see that part of the rock connecting the garage and the main house had to be preserved… which required great precision.
The construction of the foundations also represented a major challenge: here again, the margin for error was non-existent. The positioning of the corners, for example, called for highly precise geolocation technologies. In addition, special precautions had to be taken as several concrete walls were an integral part of the architectural design.
Erection of the framework began in November and was completed in January 2014. Insulation and mechanical work on the building followed in parallel with the construction of the flat roof. This work was carried out in the middle of winter, requiring arduous labor and a number of precautions.
The building’s interior and exterior finishes were completed in the summer of 2014. Once again, since nothing is standard in La Héronnière, Écohabitations boréales faced ongoing and stimulating challenges in reconciling the owners’ requirements, the architect’s vision and the imperatives of ecological certification. One example among many: the garage door shared the same horizontal plank cladding with the house, so perfect alignment had to be ensured. This meant repeatedly opening and closing the door, while constantly adjusting these systems to its increasing weight. This is just one small detail among hundreds of others in this magnificent home.

The house was finally delivered to the happy owners in September 2014. It has received both LEED Gold and Novoclimat certification.
This extraordinary project enabled the Écohabitations boréales team to surpass itself on many levels, from construction techniques and expertise in energy production technologies to the management of complex worksites. As we said at the outset… there are some projects that leave a lasting mark on a builder’s career.

Visit the complete project photo gallery.

Photos : Adrien Williams