Happiness in urban density

In Gatineau, near bike paths and Gatineau Park, a gas station has given way to a seven-story rental complex, which will have 189 housing units once its construction is completed. Mellem Manoir-des-Trembles represents a first foray outside the greater Montreal region for real estate developer Maître Carré. This is also its very first complex seeking LEED certification.

“Gatineau has a lot of potential for a beautiful urban life,” says Hugo Girard-Beauchamp, president and founder of Maître Carré. It’s a solid market and we think we can add value there. Other developers also work very well there and we see that their accommodation rents extremely well. This urban approach with quality environments is seen not only in Gatineau, but in Quebec, of course, in Drummondville, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, in Chambly. This type of living together is offered not only because it is economically viable, but also because it is fun and allows you to devote your time to doing things you love. »

Maître Carré entrusted the design of the rental complex to the ACDF Architecture agency. The two firms, which are collaborating for the second time, sought to create places that promote interactions between tenants, to demonstrate that there can be happiness in urban density.

“We wanted the ground floor to be a lively place in Gatineau,” says Maxime Frappier, associate architect and president of ACDF Architecture. We don’t want people to go upstairs alone. The importance given to spaces, which complete people’s intimate habitat, is translated into architecture. On the ground floor, vaults are created, which connect people with the outside and which constitute gathering places more on a human scale when there are fewer people, while being open to the rest spaces. Everything is focused on people and living together. »

While Saint-Raymond Boulevard, where the complex is built, is set to transform in the more or less near future, a long-term vision has been favored. “It’s easy to offer extraordinary views to everyone on the roof,” notes Maxime Frappier. But when we bring the energy of “we” back to street level, we have a better chance of one day being able to enliven the pedestrian space and ensure that it will be good to live in the city. »

The right dosage

For the latter, it was important to make a contribution from an architectural point of view, while finding a perfect balance to respond to environmental issues. “We have to know how to restrain ourselves without making projects that are ugly and that will compromise our landscape,” he insists. The project in Gatineau is a good example. We put a little more effort on the facade, facing the city, and the rest is well contained. We have not fallen into the nonsense, into matters that are an unjustifiable carbon expense. »

The seven-story building, which revolves around an interior courtyard, is oriented to promote the penetration of light. The apartments overlooking the vast garden will be even brighter thanks to the white brick covering the walls facing the courtyard. “The tones make it possible to give character to this project, a bit like a child biting into an apple, revealing the white flesh, in contrast with the red of the peel,” explains Mr. Frappier .

LEED certification

It was not initially planned that Mellem Manoir-des-Trembles would aim for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The fact that Maître Carré is B Corp certified influenced the decision to go further.

“We have always had high standards of energy efficiency,” says Hugo Girard-Beauchamp. With our B Corp certification, we said to ourselves that there needed to be consistency behind our actions, and these actions must be able to be measured. We said to ourselves that we were working with Pomerleau, an entrepreneur recognized for his innovative green approach, and that we could be well supported by Maxime, who has done others. So we launched into the flight, when the plane had already taken off, knowing that there would be turbulence. We could achieve a higher LEED level than we thought. »

The real estate developer has distinguished himself in the past for his desire to do things well, notably by moving the Keegan House, the oldest dwelling in Griffintown, and then integrating it into the Brickfields complex. The B Corp certification (B for beneficial for everyone, for society and the planet) allows it to continue to grow, he reveals. “I wanted to have tools to manage the business and manage projects in line with the objectives,” explains Mr. Girard-Beauchamp. I’m learning a lot and that leads me to constantly seek to improve, because I will be re-evaluated in three years. »

Maître Carré has the support of two other investors to create Mellem Manoir-des-Trembles, whose overall budget amounts to 80 million. Rental of the accommodation has started and the first tenants will move in next October.

Visit the Mellem website