Categorie du projet: Single family

Northcliffe 911

Rescue of a semi-detached single-family home in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

This beautiful house, more than a century old, had been suffering from serious foundation problems for many years. The condition of the building’s structure required a complete underpinning and total interior stripping. Given the scope of demolition, how could the soul of this house built in 1917 be preserved? 

The main original components of the façade were restored: the wooden solarium over the entrance porch was repaired, the red clay brickwork was repointed, the tinwork was repainted and the stained glass windows were reinstalled. At the rear, a large cedar deck arcs around the driveway. Inside, the new white kitchen contrasts with the black, raw steel staircase. In addition to improving acoustics, the herringbone pattern of the stairwell brick catches the zenithal light. All other interior finishes echo the old palette of stained red oak and white plaster. The rescue operation was a success: the Northcliffe house is alive and well!

Schoolcraft Solar Home

A modest but highly efficient country home is built on a hillside in the Eastern Townships

Can you build an efficient architect-designed home in the middle of nowhere on a decent budget? That was the hope of a young family when they purchased their land in 2019. With the pandemic, the project accelerated. The challenge was to take advantage of the view of the green mountains to the west, maximize thermal gains in the winter to the south, reduce deforestation on the land, minimize the building’s footprint in the landscape, all with the lowest cost and… as quickly as possible ! 

Compact and minimal, the interior volume is located near the road and oriented towards the view to the west. A long shed extends the roof over the entrance, protecting its inhabitants from unwanted glances and their car from bad weather. From the road, the house is totally unremarkable. As you step inside, you are surrounded by the woodland on one side and the horizon on the other. The tall mature ash and maple trees to the south protect the windows from the summer overheat. The walk-in master bedroom enjoys a stunning view toward the sunset, while the three compact garden level bedrooms take advantage of the sloping land. The prefabrication of the highly airtight wooden walls made it possible to quickly build an almost passive house with a lean consumption of 114 kWh/m²/year. Despite the post-pandemic inflation, the challenge was met !  Welcome to the friendly Schoolcraft solar house !

70’s Dream

Restoration of a stunning 1976 single-family residence

From the Saint-Marc limestone stairway to the layout of the bedrooms and their oversize closets, from the large kitchen overlooking the garden to the dramatic interior spiral staircase, the distinctive elements of this home have been restored to preserve its welcoming personality. The use of classic materials such as wood, travertine and brass soften the composition and recall the origins of the house built during the Montreal Olympic Games. In the courtyard, the rotted wooden terrace is transformed into a gorgeous pool by the garden. Multiple plateau terraces integrate the pool fences and create both a small outdoor living room plus a patio to eat outside. On either side of the courtyard and against the natural stone wall, vegetation and an English garden adorn what has turned into a haven of peace in the mountain ! A dream comes true !

Pérenne

A delicate balance between conservation and transformation to suit the needs of a Rosemont family.

This duplex in Old Rosemont had only had three owners since its construction in 1929 ! With children growing up and overseas relatives frequently visiting, the first floor apartment was no longer adequate. How to transform a duplex into a single-family home without distorting this architectural gem of the 1930s ? 

To achieve this objective, the architects chose to leave intact most of the existing rooms with their large wooden trims and antique plaster mouldings. At the back, a fine line is traced between the conserved and transformed portions. Articulated by a new white wainscot staircase framing a large skylight, the entire back of the house is bathed in natural light. A new glazed door in the rear façade links the kitchen to its terrace. A large trap door cleverly hidden in the wood surface provides convenient access to the basement. At the back of the yard, the hemlock fence is both bike storage and a large sliding door for parking a car. This beautiful Old Rosemont home is ready for another 100 years of family life !

Le Nid de Nina

Interior remodeling of a 70s townhouse in Outremont

The original construction of this townhouse suffered from numerous defects. Uninsulated concrete block exterior walls and several major structural issues provided the opportunity to redesign the interior. Like the great horned owl which does not build its own nest but rather improves that of another bird, this client wanted to improve several rooms of her future home: reconfiguration of the entrance and staircase, transformation and opening of the kitchen to the living room. On the second floor, the bathroom is enlarged to accommodate an Italian shower and a large bath. Adjacent to the basement parking garage, the laundry room, mechanical room and storage room are revised. The custom-made furniture’s ash wood is what warms the whole like the straw of a nest.

L’Audacieuse

Interior renovation of a 70s triplex in Ahuntsic

Familiar with major renovations, this contractor client wanted to completely strip the ground floor interior of her new triplex in Ahuntsic, Montreal. While the dwelling was in overall good condition despite years of wear and tear, she didn’t see herself living in a typical 1970s layout.

Conscious of the need to reorganize the rooms to accommodate the family as well as to open the living areas to the courtyard, the architects nevertheless proposed to preserve and enhance several elements of the original dwelling. The long plastered walls defining the central circulation are painted terracotta to match the pink granite inserts of the original terrazzo floor. The new white painted steel railing brightens up the whole with its integrated planter. 

The front rooms retain their white oak marquetry with walnut inserts, whose new varnish emphasizes their raw beauty. The softer atmosphere of the living rooms is enhanced by the built-in furniture’s cherry wood. Revaluing 70s interior heritage in 2022, an audacious but judicious choice!

L’apéritif

An old NDG house regains its Victorian charm

In the heart of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, this magnificent century-old house with its sumptuous interiors was disfigured in the 1960s by an unfortunate courtyard extension. How could the kitchen be redesigned and an inviting access to the courtyard be provided without disfiguring this ancestral home?

In addition to repairing the structure and brick cladding, the extension walls were pierced with large openings to take better advantage of the beautiful southeastern light. The kitchen now opens onto the annex, connected by the extension of its counter which becomes a bar, then a cushioned bench perfect for enjoying an aperitif! The whole leads to a large sliding wooden door which offers a striking view of the courtyard.

The aesthetic blends contemporary minimalism with ornamental details typical of days past. Stained red oak floors, natural white oak cabinetry, textured glass and powder-coated steel, white marble and solid wood millwork blend naturally with the Victorian interiors of this Montreal heritage building. Improved insulation and the use of natural materials help curb the carbon impact of this beautiful transformation in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

Double foyer

Major interior remodeling of a single-family home in Cartierville 

Built by a developer nearly twenty years ago, this single-family residence no longer suited the needs of the family who had lived there since the birth of their children. The cramped kitchen, separated from the former boudoir and living room, took little advantage of the natural light available on the site. 

By transforming the boudoir into a large dining room and opening it to the kitchen, the interior of the house took on a whole new look. Many of the original components, including the staircase and the floors, were restored. The addition of integrated furniture, including the desk and its library on the second floor and the dish cabinet on the ground floor, opened up the space. The patio door was replaced by a high window to extend the kitchen to the exterior walls and provide a double view of the courtyard and the new living room. The happy family can now see clearer with these two beautiful openings, nicknamed the “bifocals”!

Phénix des Mille-Îles

A 1960s bungalow redesigned after a fire at Ferme-Sainte-Thérèse in Laval

The scene is heartbreaking but hopeful. Along with their architect, a young family visits its bungalow, devastated by fire. The objective is to build back… better ! The existing residence’s footprint is preserved to reduce the project’s environmental impact on this picturesque site bordering the Mille-Îles River. Inspired by the neighborhood’s old wooden cottages, the simple two-sloped volume is punctuated by a transverse dormer housing the master bedroom. The living areas on the ground floor are made that much vaster by the cathedral ceiling above. The grey stone masonry with its great metal roof confers a timeless air to the building, contrasting with the changing colors of the lush neighborhood. Reflecting the cycle of seasons, the Phoenix of the Thousand Islands rises from its ashes!

Bonnes Grâces

A restored and extended family home in NDG!

How to enlarge and modernize a charming 1950’s residence without spoiling it ? This is the challenge that this young family set for the remodelling of their new home. Located a short walk from Monkland promenade in the beautiful Notre-Dame-de-Grâce district, the building was not particularly appealing with its small gloomy kitchen, its narrow entrance and its outdated interiors. By building an extension for the dining room and master bedroom on the south side of the lot, the house enjoys many more generous views of the spacious backyard. All built-in furnishings, from the kitchen to the small office, closets and vanities, are finished in white oak, just like the new windows with their deep frames.
Outside, the dark blue stained cedar siding complements the typical Montreal red clay brick. The pitched roof follows the angle of the existing false mansard. The whole is harmonious, warm and welcoming. Decidedly, the young family is in heaven in this charming house from another century!