Stained Hemlock Gazebo in Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides
Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Quebec · 2026 · Gazebo
A wooded property in the Laurentians, a country house and the desire for a covered space that belonged in the landscape. Not a catalogue pergola. Something more grounded and more substantial. The client, the son and grandson of cabinetmakers and carpenters, wanted a timber frame that would be admired as much as it would be used.
The project
The initial idea was simple: create a covered outdoor space for entertaining, sheltered from rain and sun, without closing off the view of the forest. The client had clear references: exposed timber frames, high volumes and an honest expression of the wood. That was our starting point.
Choice of structure
We chose an exposed-truss frame with a high central ridge and crossed bracing elements. This type of structure hides nothing: the joints, frames and angles are all visible. That is what gives it its character.
Hemlock was selected for its availability in large sections and its outdoor performance. Stained in a warm tone, it blends naturally into the wooded surroundings without trying to imitate a more exotic wood.
Execution
This kind of timber frame depends on proportion. A ridge that is too low compresses the whole structure. Trusses placed too close together make it feel heavy. We worked on spacing, member sizes and angles so the structure would appear both light and solid.
The joints are bolted and treated for outdoor use. Every piece was cut to measure and adjusted on site. No kit and no prefabricated module.
Result
The gazebo has become the centre of gravity of the yard. It is a place to eat, read and look out at the forest. The frame creates a habitable volume without walls, open on all four sides, with a ridge height that completely changes the experience of the space.
This is the kind of project where the structure is the project.