Lamarche Residence

Mathieu Lamarche, owner of Groupe GDI, has a unique perspective as a builder and property manager. His philosophy, he explained, is to “always prioritize inclusion and autonomy as these principles add so much to our community.” Lamarche is a wheelchair user, following paralysis from a motorcycle accident in 2003. So when it came time to design his personal house, “ICF was a simple choice. It offered us the healthiest and most comfortable environment as well as the flexibility to accommodate all the accessibility and architectural features that were important for us.” 

To build a wheelchair-accessible home during Quebec’s harsh winter had its own design and logistical considerations. Adding to the complexity was the desired lakefront-facing façade, featuring extensive glazing for uninterrupted views, which posed additional structural and thermal challenges.

Using Nudura Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) offered the ideal solution. The 12-inch core ICFs provided exceptional structural strength, ensuring the house could support the expansive windows while maintaining durability and energy efficiency. The strong ICF walls also enabled the zero threshold house design with more open, wheelchair-friendly spaces.

The highly insulated home keeps the interior comfortable year-round while reducing heating and cooling costs. The use of Nudura ICFs resulted in a structurally sound, comfortable and accessible home that exceeded the owner’s expectations and even inspired plans for future ICF-based projects.