Bernard Residence
Located in the heart of Montreal's Outremont district, the Bernard residence consists of the complete renovation of the existing house and the addition of a volume at the back. Typical of the small Victorian houses found in Montreal, the house is organized on the first floor along a corridor leading to the kitchen, with the living room and dining room adjacent to this circulation space. The space is organized by a series of interconnected rooms that allow for both fluid circulation and a clear definition of each function. The commission was to open the living spaces to the courtyard and relocate the kitchen to a new rear addition.
The project therefore focuses on the interface of the house with the courtyard, with the interior spaces to be mostly retained and restored. In order to connect the dining room with the exterior spaces, the rear facade has been largely pierced and opened on a new raised terrace. A small addition hosts the kitchen, which is also largely glazed. In terms of expression, the whole intervention is treated with a single material, the St-Marc stone, a limestone typical of the region. The stone is used indifferently as a facing element or as a horizontal surface, creating an enveloping effect that extends to the back of the courtyard. The linear elements - windows, flashings, superstructure - are treated in clear anodized aluminum, a material of a similar tone to the stone, adding to the overall effect of coherence. The contrast with the original red brick clearly marks the intervention, creating a new autonomous universe while maintaining the identity of the original building.
