sage green staircase takes center stage in montreal residence renovation by naturehumaine

naturehumaine architects has expanded and renovated a single-family house in rosemont-la-petite-patrie, montreal, using three structural architectural elements: a cantilevered box attached to the back façade; a new balcony on the front façade; and a new staircase in the heart of the building which articulates and organizes the functions of the house. the three elements are distinguished by the use of a unique color, sage green, which, depending on the light intensity and the changing exposure during the day, presents a wide variation in contrasts and shades.all images by adrien williams

the expansion and renovation of the victoria residence was assigned to naturehumaine to welcome the happy and unexpected arrival of a third child into the family, named victoria. the montreal-based architects based the transformation of the house on the three structural elements – the cantilevered box, balcony, and staircase – finishing all three in a unique sage green shade that distinguishes them from the rest of the property. attached to the back façade, the cantilevered box encloses victoria’s bedroom addition, while the front façade has welcomed the new balcony. finally, in the heart of the house, the monochrome staircase attracts the attention and becomes a playful and geometric element.

designed as a lightweight structural work, the staircase is composed of steel blades and painted cabinetry panels. it defines the house’s playground area in double height by extending the color applied to the floor, while a large skylight above brings natural light to the heart of the house as well as to all the surrounding service rooms, particularly the bathrooms, which are equipped with large glass imposts. the palette of materials is deliberately sober and raw in order to contrast with the monochrome and smooth aspect of sage green, with the only exception being a bright yellow tone in the children’s bathroom. this tone reinforces the playful function of this space, which is also seen as a space for play, learning and well-being dedicated to children.

in terms of materiality, the fibrocement panels of the exterior façade are preserved naturally and extend into the dining-room, while the galvanized steel of the balconies and the concrete foundations are expressed in their raw aesthetics. inside, the ancestral wood structure of the interior wall ‘piece on piece’ is exposed and painted white in the double height space. finally, the structural beams of the living room are left exposed and stained in the same shade as the wooden floor.