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Saint-André Duplex

Montréal, Canada

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located in Montréal, Canada
design proposal from 2022

The main goals of the project are the transformation and expansion of a duplex on Saint-André Street in Montreal. The current building occupies half of a former through-lot between Saint-André and Boyer streets.
The existing structure has two levels and contains two dwellings, one per floor. Its façade is dominated by a garage door and has minimal glazing. The entrances to the units, barely visible from the street, are located beside the garage. The juxtaposition of cladding materials suggests that the building has undergone several modifications over time, resulting in a patchwork appearance of poor quality and temporary construction.
By preserving the two-storey volume at the rear of the lot and the duplex’s functional layout, the project aims to enhance the building’s architecture—both in terms of its street presence and its interior and exterior spaces. The garage volume is replaced with a new three-storey structure that reflects the scale of the surrounding buildings and increases the total living area. The new units feature contemporary layouts with spacious open areas, generous glazed surfaces, direct access from Saint-André Street, and welcoming green spaces. The exterior, inspired by adjacent buildings, is unified through a light-colored clay brick cladding.
The units are designed for two generations of the same family. The ground floor is intended for the older generation and meets universal accessibility standards, benefiting from level access from the street. This feature encourages residents to age in place.
Building on the unique configuration of the existing structure, the project proposes a sensitive yet bold intervention in an established urban fabric. In addition to reweaving the street frontage, it introduces a green pocket and a play of solid and transparent surfaces that enrich the streetscape of Saint-André.