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Architects: Architecture Open Form, Maître Carré
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Adrien Williams
Text description provided by the architects. The François-René project, on Châteaubriand Avenue in Montreal’s Rosemont-Petite-Patrie neighbourhood, boasts six exceptional, thoroughly contemporary residences. Montreal is in the midst of a condo boom, and developer Maître Carré has taken on the mission of bringing a creative and sustainable breath of fresh air to the industry.
The project is set amidst a traditional streetscape of attached duplexes and triplexes. Standard zoning for the area would have allowed for two new triplexes. Maître Carré and Architecture Open Form broke away from that constraint and proposed a bold new solution. The result: three two-story townhouses with basements, topped by three condominiums each with a mezzanine and rooftop patio.
Urban comfort and a healthy environment. This multi-unit residential project meets the highest standards of construction quality and sustainability, giving young families a healthy and pleasant environment in the heart of the city.
Echoing the comfort of the suburban single-family home, each townhouse has a basement, a yard with a wooden deck and a lawn, shed and private parking space, all desirable but rare features in city homes. The units are also fully wired for an optional electric-vehicle charging station. Many steps were also taken to optimize energy efficiency and sustainability, so that the dwellings have Novoclimat 2.0 certification, indicating compliance with a high government-set standard.
To improve the comfort of each home while reducing energy costs, Maître Carré chose natural gas for appliances and heating, making the François-René the first Novoclimat 2.0-certified development to use that fuel.
Building a personality
Unlike today’s repetitive residential developments, often built on a tight budget, the François-René project was a playground for people with a deep passion for contemporary architecture, where creativity and originality were allowed plenty of room to flourish. Several exterior and interior details are custom-made, benefiting from an architectural approach and level of consideration usually reserved for single-family homes.
The façade reveals a strong desire to instil a contemporary character through the design of the brickwork and stairs. These two architectural elements succeeded in establishing their own personality, giving the project its unique character while complying with strict regulations designed to ensure consistency with Montreal’s built heritage.
Openness and privacy
The German-made triple-glazed windows provide both sonic and thermal insulation. While outside noise is not welcome inside, natural light is the guest of honour. The large, generous windows have a variety of shapes and are designed to optimize the amount of natural light that enters, enhancing the occupants’ well being. Sunken fences run the entire width of the building’s front and back, to give the basements a feeling of openness.
Condominium life generally comes with a sense of closeness and the sharing of common spaces. Not in the François-René project. Special attention was given to privacy, private property and the feeling of being at home. Each of the six units has its own entrance; there are no shared entryways. Each unit has its own deck or patio, separated by a wood wall. While the townhouse yards border on the back alley, the condominium patios are thoughtfully placed on the street side, giving each level its own private outdoor space.
via v2com.
