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MI-1 House
MI-1 House
Laval, Canada
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MI-1 House
Laval, Canada
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2022
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
BUDGET
$500K - 1M
MI-1 is the first part of a triptych of family homes along the Mille-Îles River in Laval. This first house, the brightest of the three, is clad in white brick with all the seasons painted on it. MI-1 brings its unique and discreet character to the neighborhood.
The owners, in their early thirties, wanted to feel like they were in the country, when the only thing still evocative of what was once an enchanting place is the river. For the clients, this project was a cornerstone; a place to start their family, surrounded by the homes of their loved ones. The order was simple: a light-colored house that blends into the landscape, with bright interiors, simple gestures and warm wood. They wanted a living space with a view of the river, two bedrooms with a bathroom for the children, a master suite with a little more privacy, a mudroom and a garage.
The Context
The site, narrow and sloping, is located between two built-up lots. The neighboring residences are closer to the busy Boulevard des Mille-Îles. This boulevard surrounds the properties to the south. The challenges imposed by the choice of land were numerous, and the architects had to be creative in order to create a home that met the expectations of their clients.
Form, materiality
The site that slopes gently down to the river naturally called for a garden level. Two mature lilacs already lived in the backyard. The preservation of this vegetation was paramount to frame pleasant views and give the project an intimate character. Retaining the native species already present on the property was a priority for both the architects and the owners.
Inspired by the vernacular of Laval architecture at a time when the island was still a resort, the residence offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Canadian cottage with its gable roof.
The three volumes that make up the house each contain a part of the program. The volume parallel to the street contains the garage, the entrance hall and the living spaces. The other two volumes are perpendicular and house the rest areas. The main entrance is located in the corner. The volume closest to the street, located on the first floor, includes two bedrooms and a bathroom. As for the other volume, which overhangs it, it is intended for the master suite. Its cathedral roof and its view over the river give it a private and grandiose character. It is undoubtedly a place to recharge your batteries.
The brick on all the facades and the metal roof were chosen in a spirit of durability. Borrowing a language that blends well with the surrounding suburban fabric, MI1 subtly and simply manifests its presence along Boulevard des Mille-Îles: seen from the street, it is a small white house with an attached garage. The result: simple, clean lines and a minimal, timeless style.
Creating an intimate living space: intentions and strategies
As mentioned above, the guiding principle of the project was to work on the notion of intimacy in order to offer spaces sheltered from the neighborhood and the traffic of the boulevard des Mille-Îles. To achieve this, the architects' strategy was to concentrate the views on the river just behind the residence, thus reinforcing the impression of being alone in nature rather than in the suburbs, in the middle of cars. All living spaces were placed below, slightly "buried" from the street level. Thus, as soon as one looks out from inside the house, one encounters the shoreline and nothing else. In the heart of the space, one is sheltered from the world, in the hollow of a nature that remains magnificent, ignoring what immediately surrounds it.
The river is located on the north side. As the living spaces are all oriented and open exclusively towards this water point, it was necessary to find a way to bring in the light. In order to have access to sunlight while maintaining privacy, the architects drilled several skylights. The first is located in the living room, above the staircase. The second was placed at the intersection of the two hallways and the other two slice through the ceilings of the bathrooms and act as windows. Throughout the house, zenithal light bathes the rooms and brings a uniform and majestic lighting. In addition to these vertical openings, Dupont-Blouin chose to install windows in the hallway on each side of the bedrooms to create a luminous axis that allows light to circulate from south to north.
In the same spirit of fluidity and to echo the river, a large multifunctional wall runs through the living spaces. It runs through the house, serving in turn as a pantry and china cabinet in the kitchen, a display bookcase in the dining room and a storage cabinet in the living room. This integrated furniture, like a ribbon, gracefully turns the corner and becomes the railing of the staircase, then the checkroom on the first floor. This elegant and structuring gesture envelops the common spaces, protecting them a little more from the outside elements.
The bathrooms are clad in white ceramic and terrazzo. It's fresh, understated, classic and fun at the same time. In the living spaces and bedrooms, the floors are made of Canadian maple wood and reign divinely while providing timeless chic to the rooms. Throughout, the warmth and grain of the wood is enhanced by the cream walls. This minimalist palette of light materials reinforces the bright and soothing atmosphere throughout the home.
MI-1 is a home that feels like a refuge from the hustle and bustle, a cocoon to care for your family and a privileged access to the beauty of the Mille-Iles River.
The owners, in their early thirties, wanted to feel like they were in the country, when the only thing still evocative of what was once an enchanting place is the river. For the clients, this project was a cornerstone; a place to start their family, surrounded by the homes of their loved ones. The order was simple: a light-colored house that blends into the landscape, with bright interiors, simple gestures and warm wood. They wanted a living space with a view of the river, two bedrooms with a bathroom for the children, a master suite with a little more privacy, a mudroom and a garage.
The Context
The site, narrow and sloping, is located between two built-up lots. The neighboring residences are closer to the busy Boulevard des Mille-Îles. This boulevard surrounds the properties to the south. The challenges imposed by the choice of land were numerous, and the architects had to be creative in order to create a home that met the expectations of their clients.
Form, materiality
The site that slopes gently down to the river naturally called for a garden level. Two mature lilacs already lived in the backyard. The preservation of this vegetation was paramount to frame pleasant views and give the project an intimate character. Retaining the native species already present on the property was a priority for both the architects and the owners.
Inspired by the vernacular of Laval architecture at a time when the island was still a resort, the residence offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Canadian cottage with its gable roof.
The three volumes that make up the house each contain a part of the program. The volume parallel to the street contains the garage, the entrance hall and the living spaces. The other two volumes are perpendicular and house the rest areas. The main entrance is located in the corner. The volume closest to the street, located on the first floor, includes two bedrooms and a bathroom. As for the other volume, which overhangs it, it is intended for the master suite. Its cathedral roof and its view over the river give it a private and grandiose character. It is undoubtedly a place to recharge your batteries.
The brick on all the facades and the metal roof were chosen in a spirit of durability. Borrowing a language that blends well with the surrounding suburban fabric, MI1 subtly and simply manifests its presence along Boulevard des Mille-Îles: seen from the street, it is a small white house with an attached garage. The result: simple, clean lines and a minimal, timeless style.
Creating an intimate living space: intentions and strategies
As mentioned above, the guiding principle of the project was to work on the notion of intimacy in order to offer spaces sheltered from the neighborhood and the traffic of the boulevard des Mille-Îles. To achieve this, the architects' strategy was to concentrate the views on the river just behind the residence, thus reinforcing the impression of being alone in nature rather than in the suburbs, in the middle of cars. All living spaces were placed below, slightly "buried" from the street level. Thus, as soon as one looks out from inside the house, one encounters the shoreline and nothing else. In the heart of the space, one is sheltered from the world, in the hollow of a nature that remains magnificent, ignoring what immediately surrounds it.
The river is located on the north side. As the living spaces are all oriented and open exclusively towards this water point, it was necessary to find a way to bring in the light. In order to have access to sunlight while maintaining privacy, the architects drilled several skylights. The first is located in the living room, above the staircase. The second was placed at the intersection of the two hallways and the other two slice through the ceilings of the bathrooms and act as windows. Throughout the house, zenithal light bathes the rooms and brings a uniform and majestic lighting. In addition to these vertical openings, Dupont-Blouin chose to install windows in the hallway on each side of the bedrooms to create a luminous axis that allows light to circulate from south to north.
In the same spirit of fluidity and to echo the river, a large multifunctional wall runs through the living spaces. It runs through the house, serving in turn as a pantry and china cabinet in the kitchen, a display bookcase in the dining room and a storage cabinet in the living room. This integrated furniture, like a ribbon, gracefully turns the corner and becomes the railing of the staircase, then the checkroom on the first floor. This elegant and structuring gesture envelops the common spaces, protecting them a little more from the outside elements.
The bathrooms are clad in white ceramic and terrazzo. It's fresh, understated, classic and fun at the same time. In the living spaces and bedrooms, the floors are made of Canadian maple wood and reign divinely while providing timeless chic to the rooms. Throughout, the warmth and grain of the wood is enhanced by the cream walls. This minimalist palette of light materials reinforces the bright and soothing atmosphere throughout the home.
MI-1 is a home that feels like a refuge from the hustle and bustle, a cocoon to care for your family and a privileged access to the beauty of the Mille-Iles River.
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