Located in the Rosemont neighborhood in Montréal, this former duplex had undergone several successive renovations, notably to transform it into a townhouse. The approach favored to meet the new needs of the occupants is to streamline the program, exploiting the existing potential of the house and optimizing interior interventions. Rather than extending the building toward the backyard, a basement is dug out, a courtyard is created, and the main floor is partially reorganized to tie in with previous renovations.
The basement now houses a variety of spaces for different uses: an infotainment room, a complete bathroom, a laundry room, a pantry, two bedrooms, and a mechanical room. The courtyard provides generous natural light while preserving the privacy sought by the residents.
The design is characterized by a strong material continuity, combining maple wood and raw or polished concrete. A continuous wall of wood battens runs through the basement from the front to the back of the building, seamlessly integrating access to service areas, storage spaces, and a bookshelf. This wall becomes a structuring and unifying element, bringing coherence to the whole and visually connecting recent interventions with previous renovations. The bookshelf, inserted in the middle of this wooden wall, is designed as a dilation of the maple battens, ensuring unity in the space.
A particular attention is paid to acoustic comfort, to allow for multiple uses and accommodate the occupants’ varied schedules. The audiovisual equipment is hidden within the decor in order to maintain the refined aesthetics and versatility of the space. The project offers both brightness and privacy thanks to a careful design of the openings, reconciling the contribution of natural light and the enveloping character of the living spaces. The courtyard acts as a light well, offering a sense of the passing hours of the day and the seasons. Light and shadow are staged, with the architecture serving as their backdrop.
This project illustrates a way of expanding without building more, enhancing what already exists through a sensitive and rational approach.