![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_hero2-852x479.jpg)
Mu Architecture completes black lakefront home with two-storey boathouse
Canadian studio MU Architecture has integrated a lake house into a steep site in southern Quebec, overlooking a secluded bay and private boathouse.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_21-852x423.jpg)
The Slender House comprises a two-storey rectangular volume built into a grassy slope, using masonry retaining walls to hold back the earth. Both floors have ground-level access due to the site's incline.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x344.jpg)
The residence measures 4,500 square feet (418 square metres), with an exterior faced with black wood around portions of glazing, along with areas clad in local granite. An over-sized black roof spans 111 feet (34 metres), and pitches to 25 feet (7.5 metres) inside.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_9-852x798.jpg)
A two-storey boathouse that sits on the water below is clad in black timber to match, and includes a kitchenette and a roof terrace accessible from an outdoor staircase.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_27-852x856.jpg)
Mu Architecture designed the house as a contemporary reinterpretation of a bungalow from the 1960s. "From the street, the roof literally becomes a fifth facade," said studio co-founders Charles Côté and Jean-Sébastien Herr. "The discreet and fascinating approach gives us the impression of sinking into the ground between a hanging garden and the house."
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_8-852x564.jpg)
The longest elevation is lined with windows that overlook Lake Memphremagog — a glacial lake that reaches into the northernmost part of Vermont. "All the rooms of the house are positioned to form one single linear row," said the studio.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_16-852x460.jpg)
A large glass wall and side door are designed as the main entryway, and are located next to a stone courtyard, with steps leading up to a two-car garage with a black door.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_15-852x812.jpg)
Upon entering is a service corridor that links the garage to the main house and provides access to a series of rooms, including a washroom, a laundry room, a workout area with large glass walls, and a sauna. A pantry connects to the kitchen through a secret door.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_18-852x856.jpg)
An open-plan kitchen and living room take up the central portion of the upper floor, with a large white dining table positioned in the middle.
Kitchen cabinetry and built-in storage along the fireplace are designed to conceal appliances and a television, and are coloured white to appear as an extension of the walls.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x568.jpg)
On the opposite wing of the house is a master bedroom with ensuite and walk-in closet. The lower level houses two additional bedrooms, each with their own bathroom.
Steps connect the home's split levels across the varied terrain. A minimal colour palette of white walls, light oak flooring, and grey and black accents decorates the home.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_25-852x809.jpg)
A tiered wooden deck off the back of the house has a large eight-person dining table, creating more space for entertaining. The backyard is planted with low-lying shrubbery and flowers, with stone steps leading down to the lakefront and boathouse.
![The Slender House by MU Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/01/slender-house-mu-architecture-quebec-canada_dezeen_2364_col_26-852x363.jpg)
The Slender House is located close to the US border, a popular location for remote residences that act as escapes to nature. Examples of projects in the surrounding area include a black A-frame cottage by Jean Verville, a contemporary farmhouse with light timber walls by LAMAS, and another house that has been integrated into a hillside with pilotis by Atelier General.
Photography is by Stephane Groleau.
Project credits:
Team: Charles Côté, Jean-Sébastien Herr, Magda Telenga, Rosalie Trépanier-Blais, Steeve Galté, Camille Mollaret, Pierre- Paul Guillemette
Cabinet maker: Illo, Maël Le Bars
Structural engineer: GenieX
Contractor: Denis Legault Construction