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Heritage and modernity establish a soft, elegant dialogue in this redesigned home in Montreal, Canada.
Sitting on the banks of the river in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue in Montreal, Canada, this heritage house had a more traditional design that didn’t maximize access to the surrounding views or to natural light. Previously split in two, the ground level contained a medical office that occupied almost half of the floor’s area. Architecture and design firm Mise à Jour Studio followed a respectful design approach to transform the home, using original elements as centerpieces for a clean, minimalist and distinctly contemporary living space that feels airy, warm and connected to the river vistas.
Two existing brick chimney columns remain. Massive and exceptionally tactile thanks to their exposed brick structure, these elements become the project’s internal “posts,” setting up a more private zone at the front while opening up the rear section to the courtyard and the river views in the distance. Additionally, the architects’ work writes a beautiful adaptive-reuse story. The exterior stone cladding from the façade now surrounds the restored fireplace, which becomes the heart of the new dining space. Upstairs, the chimneys help to structure the private areas, more notably the bathroom tucked underneath the sloping roof.
Large, solid oak arches stitch rooms together with a soft gesture but also accentuate the airiness and expansive feel of the redesigned heritage home. The natural wood mirrors the hues of existing timber elements, creating a cohesive narrative throughout the house. Transformed from a boxed-in element into an open pathway, the new staircase links all three floors, plus the split-level garage. The staircase boasts wood steps and white handrails that twist and turn, effectively letting natural light to flow through the center of the home while promoting fluidity between spaces. Photography© Félix Michaud.
