la SHED architecture renovates maison de gaspé in montreal

la SHED architecture renovates maison de gaspé in montreal
image © maxime brouillet
all images courtesy of la SHED architecture 

located within montreal’s villeray district, the ‘de gaspé house’ is a renovated single family home completed by local practice la SHED architecture. acknowledging that a full restoration would be impossible to implement, the design team chose to create a contemporary façade that would seamlessly integrate with the surrounding urban fabric. in order to do this, a variety of steps were taken in order to reconcile old and new. firstly, dark painted clay brick was chosen as the material for the façade because of its resemblance to the surrounding buildings. a remodeling of the openings allowed windows to be placed vertically, while relief work on the brick crowning alluded to the traditional masonry ornaments typical of the surrounding area.

image © maxime brouillet

internally, a compact block, containing the closets, bathroom and storage space, is positioned near the entrance in order to create a separation between the vestibule and living spaces. all upper elements of the kitchen were also placed in the service block, which allows for an organization of work spaces around two islands oriented towards the living space. the living room, aligned with the kitchen, benefits from having twice the ceiling height which brings light from the first storey down to the ground floor. on one side, a bookshelf extends to the double height volume and acts as a screen that conceals the stairs.

image © maxime brouillet

at the top of the stairs a large hallway regulates access to bedrooms and the bathroom. this circulation, controlled by a multitude of sliding doors, creates a space in constant evolution throughout the day. the master bathroom contains a skylight the same width as the room itself and is thus flooded with natural light that is reflected by white ceramic walls.

image © maxime brouillet

at the rear, the house’s original volume was preserved while taking away a portion of the first floor in order to create a patio. this removal allowed for an alleviation of the building’s density in relation to the backyard, while providing the garden with further natural light and a more open line of sight. the garage is located in a timber block that extends from the inside of the house,  amplifying the continuity between indoor and outdoor space.

image © maxime brouillet

image © maxime brouillet

image © maxime brouillet

image © maxime brouillet

image © maxime brouillet

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