“The house has been designed to be able to function almost completely autonomously,” said studio founder Alain Carle. Located in the Laurentian Mountains, La Héronnière sits atop large rocks overlooking a forest. The clients chose the site based on the natural surroundings. [Alain Carle Architecte](https://alaincarle.ca/) placed a horizontal plane onto the steep slope, and created rooms both above and below the plateau. On top, the black-clad structure accommodates a den, master suite, guest bedroom and bathroom, with a separate biomass system to the west with a solar-powered roof. Underneath, an open-plan living room and kitchen are divided by a dining table. A large part of the home’s energy comes from photovoltaic panels. Neighbouring pines protect the house from wind. “Exempt from a magnetic field or wireless devices, the house reflects the owners’ desire to occupy a harmonious and ‘symbiotic’ way where the site is perceived as the ‘host’,” Carle said.