Designed by Canadian architecture firm Mainstudio, the Eagle's Nest bunkhouse in Quebec's Saint-Côme is a playful reimagination of a classic camp bunkhouse. With its primary goal to accommodate up to thirty campers from the Père Lindsay Camp of Music, the building replaces an aging cottage on the same site. In spectacular fashion, we might add.
Inspired by children's drawings and the youthful joy of attending summer camp, the designers brought to life the classic childhood interpretation of a house-a triangle atop a square. Using these two shapes as guidance, Mainstudio designed a deceptively simple pair of buildings, understated in materials but bold in form.
Set apart from other camp buildings on-site and perched on a hill overlooking Lake Priscault, the dormitory is split into two separate volumes connected by a covered walkway. The larger of the two contains bunkbeds, a kitchenette, a sitting room, and a dining area surrounded by windows.
Outside, the smaller unit houses bathrooms and showers. A covered deck runs the perimeter of the bunk hall, providing an outdoor space and a lookout view of the lake.
Materials and colors have been kept understated and monochromatic to highlight the structure's minimal forms and oversized roofs. Mainstudio was careful not to disturb the surroundings, so the cabin sits peacefully among the evergreens.
Though available imagery of the project is sparse, it doesn't take much to demonstrate the success of this epic summer camp project.
Published 01-25-2022
