This text is part of the special Real Estate section
A heritage house completely revamped to open it up to a contemporary interior; a new project anchored in history and nature. Two opposing starting points, two approaches with the same concern: finding a balance between contemporary and heritage, nature and the built environment.
Bring in the light
Built in 1936, the MBM house rises majestically on the west side of Mount Royal. “The inspection revealed several unpleasant surprises, and the clients’ program went from a minor renovation to a major project,” says Maxime Moreau, architect at MXMA Architecture & Design. The new owners of the Tudor-style house therefore had to review their plans and undertake a major renovation, both exterior and interior.
The first concern was to decompartmentalize the living spaces to make them modern and open to the outside. “It was arranged according to the way of life of the past. There were several fragmented and labyrinthine rooms,” says the architect. The firm first reworked the multiple alignments of windows: “There were narrow windows, little light, some high windows, others low,” lists Mr. Moreau. Removing partitions, adding patio doors and realigning the rear windows allowed the home to be flooded with light. One of the important gestures was to create a bright corridor upstairs: by going up the staircase, a veritable ribbon which connects all the levels of the house, the visitor can gaze at the mountain, on one side, and the river on the other.
To properly integrate the old and the new, the original moldings and coffers were preserved, and wood was favored for the floors on all floors. With the exception of the office, an intense navy blue reminiscent of one of the owners’ travel experiences, all the rooms were painted white, becoming a setting for works of art.
Take inspiration from the environment
Even though it is a new construction, the Forges residence, in Trois-Rivières, was also designed in the spirit of combining heritage and modernity. “We were inspired by the cultural heritage of the Forges du Saint-Maurice, right next door,” confides Régis Lechasseur, head architect at Bourgeois/Lechasseur architects. The exterior cladding combines the natural stone of the basilaire and the black spruce wood upstairs, which floats on the ground floor. The steel structure is also inspired by the work of blacksmiths.
Inside, wood brings a touch of warmth to the living spaces, which are flooded with light thanks to the large windows. Even though the residence is a stone’s throw from Boulevard des Forges, the owners are immersed in the surrounding forest, whose mature trees have been preserved as much as possible.
The architects also had to adapt to the natural constraints of the steeply sloping terrain, which borders the Saint-Maurice River. The particular shape of the building was determined by it, so as to maintain a view and constant contact with the river. A third wing was added, forming an original Y-shaped plan. The family’s living areas are upstairs, while those reserved for guests, the garage and technical spaces are divided into the three wings on the ground floor. ground floor with, in the center, the staircase, which constitutes the central core of the residence. “We always want to stand out, get out of the ordinary, but by sticking to something on the site, to have a story to tell,” underlines Mr. Lechasseur.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.