De L’Écrin Residence

An extension designed for a duplex in a dense and vibrant neighborhood of Montreal, Canada.

Located in the densely populated and bustling neighborhood of Côte-des-Neiges in Montreal, Canada, this duplex was elegantly enhanced by Appareil Architecture. The thoughtfully designed extension of De L’Écrin Residence not only provides privacy, but also creates relaxed outdoor spaces for both the clients, who own the ground floor unit, and for their neighbor on the upper level. Inspired by the character of the home’s architectural design and by the color palette of the surrounding houses, the studio designed the gorgeous extension with pale masonry walls that extend toward the garden to create a more secluded outdoor space. Cedar wood and steel add an industrial touch to the palette.

While expanding the client’s home, the extension also creates a terrace for the owner of the upper duplex unit. Both neighbors can access their outdoor areas separately. As a result, they can now enjoy spending time outdoors without disturbing the other’s privacy.

“Since the backyard is located at the end of the block and was in full view of the neighboring homes, the challenge of the project was to reconfigure the space to let light in while simultaneously creating privacy,” says Marie-Andrée Bérubé, architect at Appareil.

Carefully planned to preserve the original architecture and to minimize its impact on the site, the extension sits lower than the main home. The studio also renovated the rear part of the home to create a natural transition between the existing living spaces and the extension. The new volume houses a living room, dining area and kitchen. Designed with a higher ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows, the extension now contains the brightest rooms of the entire house.

A material palette that keeps textured and smooth finishes in a beautiful balance.

Inside the extension, the studio used the same blend of warm wood and mineral elements. A custom walnut storage unit adds exceptional warmth to the palette. At the same time, this ingeniously designed element both divides the living room from the kitchen and provides separate storage spaces for the two areas. In the kitchen, polished concrete flooring, quartz countertops and handcrafted ceramic tiles provide a gorgeous counterpart to the warmth of solid wood. On the new terrace, the two extended side masonry walls not only provide privacy, but also shield this space from the elements.

Finally, Appareil Architecture installed an underfloor heating system to enhance the level of comfort in the extension. In the summer, the concrete floors provide a cool surface to walk on, while in the winter, they provide much-needed heat. On this project, the architecture firm collaborated with cré-actif construction, woodwork specialists Atelier Assembly, and lighting experts Lambert & Fils. Photography by Félix Michaud.