The existing building, an industrial workshop from the 50’s, shelters a masterful project realized by Jacques Bilodeau in 2003. The concrete block walls and weak foundations of the existing structure could not support the weight of two additional floors. In order to preserve the architectural intervention of Jacques Bilodeau, we had to build on top of the existing building – a delicate and complex operation....
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The developer wanted to add a townhouse at the back of an existing 5 apartment building. Because of zoning regulations, a physical connection between the existing building and the new construction was required. This built link organizes the two structure around an interior courtyard. The limited allowable footprint generated a compact and efficient organization of the interior spaces. A sculptural staircase built out of plywood connects all three floors, mezzanine and basement....
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The residence on Glencoe Avenue is one of a number of semi-detached houses in the neighbourhood built in the 1950s. The project consisted of completely renovating the ground and second floor of the house. The first objective was to open up the ground floor by removing the structural wall and supporting a main beam on one central column. In this new open space, the kitchen becomes the heart of social activities around the house. It acts as a connecting element between the different spaces. A series of translucide pivoting panels add an element of flexibility to the residence. In the winter, these panels can be closed to create a vestibule in the entry, while in the summer these can be opened freeing up the central space. Quarter cut white-oak veneer adorns the kitchen cabinets in contrast with the grey stained maple boards that make up the floor. To reduce costs,...
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The clients had to find a way to expand their ground-floor unit with the arrival of twin babies. They wanted an adaptable design that would be fun and playful for their 3 young children. In order to keep their upstairs tenants, they had to expand outwards rather then upwards. The solution was to group all 4 bedrooms into a 1350 sqft rear annex. Nicknamed “la couleuvre” (the garden snake), the extension starts on the ground floor of the existing building and twists its way through the rear courtyard, mounting a brick volume clad with bricks salvaged from the demolished garage. The parents’ quarters are located in the ground floor brick volume, while the kid’s bedrooms are pushed up into the twisting volume upstairs. A bright orange handrail leads you up into the kids’ zone. An open concept bathroom that facilitates family bath time also acts as the circulation to the...
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A small family of three with a modest budget; a new open space clearing the ground floor; a full-width sliding door opening unto a sunny courtyard; a functional kitchen made of steel, wood and concrete; a floating staircase of perforated steel; an existing skylight expanded to bring light into the office and ground floor bathroom ; la belle vie!...
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The clients wished to enlarge their 800 sf bungalow by adding a second floor to the existing structure. However, the existing foundations quickly proved this option impossible. In turn, the architects proposed to build an extension into the backyard. The first gesture was to lower the new dining room to the level of the exterior terrace, and to link it to the kitchen through a vast open space. Suspended atop the dining room, a translucent reading cube emerges from the master bedroom. Meanwhile, a light well ensures that direct sunlight reaches the dining room all day long. Playing in a subversive manner with the numerous constraints, the architects yielded a unique project. Simple and modest, the St-Hubert residence offers nonetheless a rich spatial experience with generous and luminous spaces....
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