The design of the residence had to meet three important challenges: architectural reconciliation of a Mexican inspiration in a Quebec context; exploration of a prototype house with predefined materials; and the objectives of LEED® Canada certification. The living spaces traverse, overlook, and gravitate around the patio, a large volume in which the effect of vegetation and a body of water is magnified through optimization of fenestration and the building’s orientation. The volumes have irregular contours to control sunlight and views; solar gain is maximized.

The use of many prefabricated materials, insulating formwork, and the prefab fibre cement panels made it possible to develop durable assemblages and considerably reduce waste.

The residence’s main energy sources are geothermy and thermal solar collectors. Alone, these sources heat the residence, the domestic water, and the indoor and outdoor pools. The masterful use of materials, combined with technical strategies, resulted in exemplary efficiency, an Energuide 92 rating, and airtightness at three times the norm.

The landscaping emphasizes soil permeability, erosion control, and indigenous vegetation.

This residence obtained LEED® Canada for Homes certification.

Blouin Tardif Architecture-Environnement

Established in 2004, the firm excels in the design of sustainable buildings developed around the principles of Durability, Performance and Aesthetics. The workshop relies on a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineer, sustainable design specialist and LEED Project Manager. All projects are undertaken using the integrated design method. The result is the best integrated solution coming out of integrated design sessions involving the professionals from every field of practice.

We are a Canadian Leader in LEED certified buildings and LEED project management and we have worked with some of the biggest corporations in Canada such as First Capital Asset Management, Sobeys, Cascades, Rona, Smart Centres, etc.
The quality of the firm’s work has been recognized numerous times by diverse nominations and prizes from the Québec Order of Architects, ASHRAE, Design-Build Institute and Grands Prix de Design.

Data sheet

Official name of the project: Terre et Eau
Location: Rigaud
Architects: Blouin Tardif Architecture Environnement Inc.
Project manager: Jean Tardif
Design team: Jean Tardif, Isabelle Beauchamp, Mijanou Jodoin, Patrick Côté, Nicola Russo
Structure Engineer: Génivar, Philippe Beaudoin
Mecanical Engineer: Innovénergie, Éric Dion
Landscape architects: Groupe espace vie, Marie-France Turgeon
Lighting consultant: Quartz-light, Christian de Chabannes
LEED certification manager: Écohabitation, Emmanuel Cosgrove
Site management: J.A. Construction, Jacques Auger
Area of project: 6500 pieds carrés
FProject end date:  Février 2013
Photographer: Steve Montpetit, 2013
Certification: LEED habitation