New perspectives | Press

With their heads still in Japan, a young couple from Montreal let La Shed Architecture guide them to renovate a narrow house at the corner of an alley thanks to in-depth work. Footbridges punctuate family life in the new space crossed by light. An openness and perspective that are welcome on a daily basis.

Muriel Francoise
Special collaboration

Jamie and Magali’s quest in the Montreal real estate jungle in 2017 was very specific: a house on the corner of a street and an alley. A desire for a trip to Japan. “It was while walking through the alleys of Kyoto that this special relationship with the city aroused our interest,” says Jamie. “There is a whole dynamic of life there, an energy, a dialogue with the neighborhood. »To the point of not dwelling too much on the few weaknesses of the building they visit on the Plateau, near La Fontaine Park, when they consider leaving their Mile End apartment.

As often, the old duplex, built at the beginning of the last century, has lost all of its original details following renovations in the 1980s without regard to its history. La Shed Architecture, to which the couple entrusted the transformation of the house that will accommodate their future family, takes the opportunity to expand it without encroaching on the neighborhood. She completely redesigned the facade, proven by the years thanks to research in the City’s archives, and removed the balconies on the garden side to push back the exterior walls, which made it possible to gain an area of ​​4 ft on four levels.

The architects also decide to exploit the verticality of the building by means of openwork steel and wooden walkways to connect the rather small rooms to the floors – and name the project accordingly: Passerelles.

“They arouse emotions, and give perspective,” adds Jamie, who has been experiencing them daily since summer 2020.

Highlighted

Very appreciable luxury in town, the absence of direct neighbors thanks to the lane allows a large window to be placed on a high side wall which, with a skylight on the third level, helps to open up the space. The new footbridges draw a course punctuated by the sun and architecture with areas of shade and penumbra, more intimate and relaxing. As for the bathroom separated from the landings by frosted glass, dressed in walnut and inspired by the Japanese hot springs visited by Jamie and Magali. The wood species is also chosen for the floors of the upper floors in order to warm the interior and to create a play of contrasts that catches the eye. In other words, to promote a gentle atmosphere despite the minimalism of the place.

The living room, on the ground floor, unites the dining room, living room, pantry and kitchen, without an island! This desire of the young owners, in the old fashioned way, does not clutter up the room. “We don’t cook a lot; the large kitchen counter is enough for us ”, confides the one who, in the meantime, has become the father of two little blond heads.

Open windows

If the living room, with its large French window opening onto a pretty green courtyard and a garage-workshop, leaves the visitor dreaming, it is nevertheless in the basement that the family likes to meet. It is also in this room erected on new foundations that she often settles down to read, play or watch television. To accommodate the precious natural light, an English courtyard has been fitted out below the wooden slatted terrace leading to the garden. This small 20 ‘by 6’ opening, with a gravel bed reminiscent of Japanese Zen gardens, allows children to have fun outdoors in complete safety and expands the space by promoting an art of living in harmony with its environment.

The opening to the outside, worked on both sides of the house, delights Jamie who, in his office on the third level with a full-height window overlooking the alley, vibrates to the rhythm of life there. deploys. “The view over the alley and the Plateau is extraordinary. I can’t help but watch what’s going on outside. I sometimes have trouble concentrating, ”he says with a smile.