Faire le vide: Prefabricated Timber Installation in a Remote Canadian Landscape
Faire le vide is a public art installation on Island No. 22 in Quebec’s Poisson Blanc Regional Park. Artist-architect Luca Fortin and design studio Atelier mock/up designed the piece as part of a new programme to bring cultural projects to the park’s islands.
Design and Materials
The cube-shaped structure uses laminated cedar wood. Its minimalist exterior has vertical slats that reflect the lines of the nearby forest. Inside, curved walls reveal visible CNC milling marks. These lines come directly from the fabrication process, giving the interior a distinct texture and visual rhythm.
Designers selected cedar for its strength and resistance to weather. CNC milling allowed them to create complex interior forms with precision and minimal waste.
Construction and Environmental Approach
Visitors can reach the island only by canoe or kayak. To protect the site, the team prefabricated the entire structure off-site. They transported each panel by boat and carried them by hand to the final location. As a result, the installation required no heavy machinery and left the rocky ground untouched.
This method reduced environmental impact while demonstrating how prefabrication and careful logistics can make construction possible in fragile ecosystems.
Applications for Design Practice
The project illustrates how digital fabrication, modular design, and natural materials can combine to create architecture in remote or protected areas. Therefore, it offers valuable insight for architects, landscape architects, and interior designers working in similar contexts.
In addition, Faire le vide adds a cultural element to the park. It complements activities such as camping, hiking, and climbing, encouraging visitors to explore and engage with the landscape in new ways.
Source: v2com-newswire
Photos: Karma Photographie / Irvin Burel / Behind Creation / Maryse Béland