Posted at 12:00 p.m.
As its title indicates, the book highlights some of the most significant historic residences in the Quebec region. Great care has been taken to place them in their context, so that they are appreciated at their true value.
The dwellings around Québec, sober and elegant, stand out from those of other regions, including Montréal. Their architecture, we first discover, was influenced by particular conditions. The geographical position of the city, its history (with successive French and English regimes), the evolution of the society that composes it as well as town planning have all contributed to giving it its own character.
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PHOTO BY BRIAN MERRETT, PROVIDED BY EDITIONS DE L’HOMME
This wooden house, located in the historic district of Lévis, was built in 1882 for Philomène and Alphonse Desjardins. The latter founded the Caisses Populaires Desjardins here.
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PHOTO BY BRIAN MERRETT, PROVIDED BY EDITIONS DE L’HOMME
The Walker House was built around 1905 on Île d’Orléans. The former home of the painter Horacio Walker is carefully maintained by its current owner, who allowed the interior to be photographed.
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PHOTO BY BRIAN MERRETT PROVIDED BY EDITIONS DE L’HOMME
Édouard Fiset, chief architect of the Expo 67 construction site in Montreal, built his own house in Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge in 1961. The current owners have also preserved its original appearance inside.
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The first part of the volume, of a hundred pages, is rich in illustrations and photos. It allows you to grasp the specificity of the city of Quebec, founded in 1608 on a site that is both magnificent and strategic. This presentation helps to understand the gradual transformation of homes, both in town and in the countryside, from the 17e until the XXe century. We (re)discover along the way the characters who have shaped the course of the history of the capital, as well as the inhabitants of notorious houses that exist or have disappeared.
The second part of the book is devoted to 25 historical residences carefully chosen for their exceptional character. They are presented in chronological order of their construction, from the Maison des Jésuites (1637) to the Maison Fiset (1961), both located in the district of Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge. It is thus easy to follow the evolution of construction methods, fashions and styles.
Some of the carefully maintained residences are private. The privilege of seeing its interior is all the more precious. Others have survived. The journey to transform them into a cultural center or a museum is told, recalling the great role played by heritage lovers, who sounded the alarm and saw to their safeguarding. By introducing little-known aspects of Quebec’s residential heritage, François Rémillard and Brian Merrett in turn want to maintain interest in historic buildings, to ensure their longevity.
Beautiful historic homes in Quebec and its region
Francois Remillard and Brian Merrett
Editions de l’Homme
256 pages