André-Benjamin-Papineau House

Laval, Canada

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André-Benjamin-Papineau House

Laval, Canada

Firm

Beaupré Michaud et Associés, Architectes

Type

Cultural › Museum

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2023

BUDGET

$5M - 10M

The André-Benjamin-Papineau House is an old farmhouse built in 1820 on what is now the territory of Laval for André Papineau. Its heritage significance stems from its association with André-Benjamin Papineau, son of the original builder and a historical figure on Île Jésus.

In the early 1970s, the planned route of the future highway 13, cutting across Laval, threatened the house with demolition. The Île Jésus Historical Society mobilized and succeeded in having the house designated as a heritage property in 1974. That same year, after negotiations, the house was moved about a hundred meters. In 1975, clean-up work was undertaken with the aim of restoring the building, which, among other things, led to the reinstatement of its hipped roof. The City of Laval acquired the property shortly afterward. The house, transformed into a museum, had to be closed to the public in 2014 due to the presence of mold in many of its components.

When the project began in 2019, Beaupré Michaud et Associés, Architectes, was commissioned to restore the house and the adjacent barn. Very quickly, the mandate evolved to include universal access to all levels of the house.

Major masonry work was carried out on the house’s stone envelope. The woodwork of the doors and windows was restored and stained using linseed oil-based products. The floor structure was straightened, and new foundations were added beneath the columns to ensure the stability of the framework. Since the site is located near a former stream, a complete waterproofing system was installed on the foundations, and a drainage system with a rainwater collection basin was set up on the property. This system is notably used for watering the heritage plant garden.

The new staircase, the new elevator, and the additional spaces are grouped in a new adjacent volume, connected to the house by a narrow bridge at each level. The extension’s form is contemporary, a formal departure from the house, but it reflects the new technical uses it accommodates. Its materiality creates links between old and new, thanks to the use of more traditional materials such as white cedar and zinc. The vertical circulation in the extension allows for views of the house through glass walls, offering new perspectives on the traditional components of a 19th-century farmhouse. In addition to enhancing the museum space, this extension is intended as a didactic tool for highlighting built heritage.

Near the house, the small barn, which was used for storing agricultural tools, was renovated and converted into a café. The structure, which had previously sat directly on packed earth, was raised while the foundation slab was poured. The white cedar siding and roofing were refurbished. Only the structure that had not been damaged by rot was preserved. The interior layout now accommodates a reception area and a small kitchen for operating the café. This space now welcomes site visitors for a well-deserved refreshment during the summer season.

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Team

Menaud Lapointe

Architect, project manager

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André-Benjamin-Papineau House

Laval, Canada

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André-Benjamin-Papineau House

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Product Spec Sheet

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André-Benjamin-Papineau House

Laval, Canada

Other Projects by Beaupré Michaud et Associés, Architectes

Montreal City Hall

Mill of Île-Perrot

André-Benjamin-Papineau House

Laval, Canada

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team