Montreal, QC

This building is an urban regeneration project where an abandoned garage has been transformed into an exotic urban cottage. Located at the back of an 8m x 24m lot, the building is pulled back from its neighboring row of houses. A grain silo is pushed forward on the site, providing shade for an intimate terrace garden. Enclosing vine covered walls create a refreshing visual oasis for pedestrians passing by.

Within the house, on the main level, the kitchen is conceived as a “tool shed”, constructed with industrial materials, a concrete floor, and a steel stair. This space opens up onto the second level where the existing joists have been cut away on the interior, revealing themselves only on the exterior, where the joist ends protrude from the carefully preserved plaster walls. The second level contains sleeping quarters, bathroom facilities and storage space. A mezzanine above is used as a studio workspace and overlooks a small private roof terrace.