A modern two-story trapezoidal metal cottage with silver corrugated siding, angled roofline, and wooden porch glows at dusk.

Pavillon Turns a Burned Family Cottage into a Trapezoidal Metal Home

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Written by John Oliver

2026-11-04

A family cottage built in the 1970s and later lost to fire now lives on in a new home in Quebec. Clad in silver corrugated metal, the two-story house is a trapezoidal metal cottage shaped by its site. Interior design studio Pavillon worked with Sophie Lalonde Architecte to carry the memories of the original into the new building.

Memory as a design brief

For Julie Bureau, a founder of Pavillon, the original cottage near Lac Chapleau lives in sensory memories. She remembers a red exterior, floral patterns, woven light fixtures, and weekends riding motocross bikes through the surrounding woods.

Those recollections shaped the new design. Familiar colors and details return in altered forms. The red entry door is the clearest echo of the earlier cottage, and the family’s motocross history appears in photographs and artwork throughout the house.

Owner-built homes from the same decade also turned personal ideals into real houses, so Northern California’s self-sufficient homes from the 1970s makes a fitting companion read.

Silver corrugated metal cottage with square windows stands behind a motocross rider on gravel driveway.
A contemporary Canadian cottage with silver corrugated metal siding and square windows stands behind a motocross rider on a gravel driveway. The image connects the modern building with the family’s history of riding motorcycles on the property.
Covered wooden porch beside silver metal cottage with large sliding glass doors.
A covered wooden porch runs alongside a contemporary cottage with silver corrugated metal siding. Large sliding glass doors connect the deck with the kitchen and living spaces, while exposed ceiling beams and a wooden lounge chair add warmth.

A house wrapped in silver

The trapezoidal metal cottage’s plan responds to the limits of the lot. Angled walls give the house an irregular footprint, and that footprint determines how the rooms fit together.

Silver corrugated metal covers the walls and roof, so the building reads as one continuous surface. The finish shifts with the light. It looks bright and reflective by day and turns much darker at night, when warm lamplight shows through the windows.

Aerial view of angled cottage with corrugated metal roof and wooden deck among trees.
An aerial view of a contemporary cottage reveals its corrugated metal roof, angled building shape, and covered wooden deck. Surrounded by mature trees, the house has an unusual trapezoidal floor plan.

A covered wooden deck runs along one side of the house, beside the main living areas. Large sliding glass doors link the kitchen, dining area, and living room to the deck.

Metal-clad cottage at dusk with asymmetrical roofline, dark siding, and lit square windows.
A modern metal-clad cottage photographed at dusk features an asymmetrical roofline, dark corrugated siding, and square windows illuminated from within. A covered porch extends from the side of the two-story building.
Red front door contrasts with silver corrugated metal exterior and wooden covered entrance decking.
A red front door adds a warm accent to the silver corrugated metal exterior of this modern cottage. The covered entrance features wooden decking and a narrow glass panel beside the door.

Fitting a full house into a narrow plan

Limited floor area and angled exterior walls left little room to waste in this corrugated metal home. The ground floor combines the kitchen, dining area, living room, entry, and powder room. Hallways take up very little of the space.

The passage to the powder room also leads to the refrigerator and pantry. Placing storage and appliances there lets the kitchen keep a straight run of cabinets.

Architectural floor plans showing an unusual trapezoidal layout across two levels of a modern cottage.
Architectural floor plans show the unusual trapezoidal layout of a two-story modern cottage. The ground floor combines a kitchen, dining area, and living room, while the upper level includes bedrooms, a bathroom, and an additional lounge.

Upstairs, the plan holds a second living room, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. One bedroom doubles as an office. A closet can become a small workspace, and a bedroom can be rearranged to sleep extra guests.

Modern kitchen with matte black cabinets, brown rectangular wall tiles, and wooden beams overhead.
A modern kitchen combines matte black cabinets and countertops with warm brown rectangular wall tiles and wooden cabinetry. An exposed ceiling with wooden beams extends over the nearby dining area.

These adaptable rooms let the metal cottage host different activities and varying numbers of guests without adding floor area.

Minimalist bedroom with low platform bed, neutral bedding, and square windows framing trees.
A minimalist bedroom features a low platform bed, neutral bedding, and square windows framing views of the surrounding trees. An angled ceiling and warm wood flooring complement the simple interior.
Raised wooden platform bed beneath a wood-paneled overhead structure in a compact bedroom.
A contemporary bedroom features a raised wooden platform bed positioned beneath an overhead wood-paneled structure. Square windows on two sides bring natural light into the compact sleeping area.

Softer materials inside

Outside, it reads as industrial. Inside, the materials turn to wood paneling, earth-toned tile, and brown tones. Large square windows keep the surrounding trees in view.

Plush velvet seating from élément de base anchors the living room. A stainless steel coffee table reflects light in a way that echoes the exterior metal. A freestanding fireplace and a wood-paneled wall add further warmth.

Living room with brown velvet sectional, stainless steel coffee table, and large windows framing forest.
A modern cottage living room features a brown velvet sectional sofa, a reflective stainless steel coffee table, and a striped lounge chair. Large windows frame the surrounding forest, while sliding glass doors open onto a wooden deck.

In the kitchen, dark cabinets meet brown tile and a long work surface. A window over the sink faces the property. Beside it, the dining area holds a timber table, metal-framed chairs, and an exposed wood ceiling.

Living room with wood-paneled walls, brown velvet sofa, and freestanding black fireplace.
A cozy contemporary living room combines warm wood-paneled walls with a brown velvet sectional sofa and a stainless steel coffee table. A freestanding black fireplace, colorful lounge chair, and small square window complete the space.

A vintage Suzuki motocross poster hangs in the dining area and adds a bright yellow note. It recalls the weekends Julie spent on the trails near the first cottage. In a room otherwise kept in quiet tones, the poster ties the house to the family’s history.

Black kitchen with brown vertical wall tiles and a window over the sink.
A modern black kitchen features warm brown vertical wall tiles, a long dark countertop, and a square window above the sink. A motocross rider visible through the window adds an unexpected detail to the interior photograph.

The new house does not copy the 1970s cottage. It takes its cues from that building. The metal shell, the irregular plan, and the adaptable layout are new. The colors, furnishings, and personal references inside keep a thread to the cottage that burned.

Dining area with long wooden table, metal-framed chairs, and exposed wooden ceiling beams.
A contemporary dining area features a long wooden table, metal-framed chairs, and exposed wooden ceiling beams. A yellow vintage Suzuki motocross poster adds color to the warm interior, while large glass doors bring in natural light.

Rebuilding after loss takes many forms, and Fire Island beach house rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy shows another way a damaged home can become a new retreat.

Photography: Maxime Brouillet. Design: Pavillon interior design studio. Builder: owner-built. Collaborator: Sophie Lalonde Architecte.

A modern two-story trapezoidal metal cottage with silver corrugated siding, angled roofline, and wooden porch glows at dusk.
A modern two-story cottage in Canada features silver corrugated metal siding, an angled roofline, and a covered wooden porch. Large glass doors reveal the warm interior lighting at dusk.

Source: contemporist.com

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the trapezoidal metal cottage in Quebec?

Interior design studio Pavillon worked with Sophie Lalonde Architecte on the house. The home was built by its owner.

Why does the metal cottage have an irregular footprint?

The house’s plan responds to the limits of the lot, and angled walls give it an irregular footprint. That footprint determines how the rooms fit together.

How does the silver metal exterior change throughout the day?

The silver corrugated metal looks bright and reflective by day and turns much darker at night. Warm lamplight shows through the windows after dark.

What details connect the new house to the burned cottage?

The red entry door is the clearest echo of the earlier cottage. The family’s motocross history appears in photographs and artwork throughout the house, including a vintage Suzuki motocross poster in the dining area.

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