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Alexandre-de-Sève town house in Montréal, Canada by Guillaume Lévesque architecte

Project name:
Alexandre-de-Sève town house
Architecture firm:
Guillaume Lévesque architecte
Location:
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Photography:
Charles Lanteigne photo
Principal architect:
Guillaume Lévesque
Design team:
Matisse Aubin Thuot
Collaborators:
Matisse Aubin Thuot
Interior design:
Built area:
310 m²
Site area:
Design year:
2019
Completion year:
2020
Civil engineer:
Structural engineer:
GENIEX
Environmental & MEP:
Group Cémec Inc,
Landscape:
L’espace paysage, Martine Boudreault
Lighting:
Supervision:
Visualization:
Tools used:
Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD
Construction:
GENIEX
Client:
Status:
Built
Typology:
Residential › House

The Montreal-based architecture firm Guillaume Lévesque architecte has recently completed renovation of a 19th-century house located on Alexandre-de-Sève Street in the Ville-Marie borough in Montreal, Canada. 

Architect's statement: In 2017, the townhouse owners contacted Montreal architect Guillaume Lévesque for a very unique renovation project. They wanted to transform an old 1880s duplex into a multi-unit and harmonize the original style of the building with a decidedly contemporary and uncluttered addition. 

black house with swimming pool image © Charles Lanteigne photo

Restoration

Restoring a 19th-century house while retaining the heritage and creating a contemporary addition is quite a challenge. The original 60m2 building has been fully restored and converted into two apartments: a two-floor 4 ½ and a 3 ½ on the second floor. 

contemporary house with black facade image © Charles Lanteigne photo

Both apartments have an open plan with abundant fenestration with large 3.65m high side windows carved into the brick wall. The attic has been completely covered with new slate tiles. The dormers and woodworking have been completely rebuilt.

modern townhouse in Montreal image © Charles Lanteigne photo

Addition of a contemporary townhouse 

A 180m2 contemporary addition on three levels was also built at the back of the building. The basement includes a double garage with concealed door and storage rooms. The living room on the ground floor opens through large sliding doors onto a 4m x 12m outdoor terrace. It covers the driveway to the garage in the basement and offers a magnificent space for a dining room and sunny outdoor living room. The second floor contains the master bedroom, two bathrooms, and a living room which can also be a guest bedroom.

backyard of the house image © Charles Lanteigne photo

The addition includes large openings providing all interior spaces with a considerable amount of natural light. A sober facing of black metal panels covers the contemporary addition and gives the whole a neat finish.

Overcoming Constraints 

The Ville-Marie borough required that the existing building be preserved and restored. A challenge that the team of architects, accompanied by tinsmith craftsmen, cabinet makers, and masons, has successfully taken up.

sunlight enters dining area through slide window image © Charles Lanteigne photo

Citations

“I am very proud of the design work and site monitoring that we have accomplished at Alexandre-de-Sève townhouse. When I first visited the building with the clients, I knew it was going to be a great challenge. I immediately saw the potential of retaining the heritage of the existing building while adding a contemporary volume. This project would not exist today without the meticulous work of the contractor and craftsmen, engineers, team of architects, and landscape architect as well as the rigorous follow-up of clients."

outdoor furniture at terrace image © Charles Lanteigne photo

outdoor stairs with handrails image © Charles Lanteigne photo

garden plants and swimming pool image © Charles Lanteigne photo

green plants at garden image © Charles Lanteigne photo

basement area with natural illumination through openings image © Charles Lanteigne photo

kitchen island made of marble stone image © Charles Lanteigne photo

kitchen bar stools image © Charles Lanteigne photo

kitchen with open slide window to terrace image © Charles Lanteigne photo

pendant lamps image © Charles Lanteigne photo

wooden dining tableimage © Charles Lanteigne photo

staircase with metal handrails image © Charles Lanteigne photo

stair steps detailsimage © Charles Lanteigne photo

parquet flooring image © Charles Lanteigne photo

master bedroom design image © Charles Lanteigne photo

bathroom with skylight in ceiling image © Charles Lanteigne photo

Basement Floor Plan Basement Floor Plan 

Ground Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan 

Front Second Floor Plan Front Second Floor Plan 

Back Second Floor Plan Back Second Floor Plan 

Site Plan Site Plan 

Site A-A Drawing Site A-A

Site B-BSite B-B

Elevations Fromt and Back Elevations 

Side Elevation drawing Side Elevation 

Side Elevation 

perspective drawing Axonometric 

Axonometric drawing Axonometric 

Axonometric architecture drawing Axonometric 

Axonometric drawing Axonometric 

About Guillaume Lévesque architecte

Since 2010, Guillaume Lévesque Architect firm realized over 120 residential and institutional projects for private clients and for community and public organizations in the North (Nunavik) and other regions across Quebec. 

The firm specializes in architectural design, technical advice, feasibility studies, analysis of existing buildings, and coordination of permits with municipalities and building engineers, as well as site supervision.

 

Volunteer and engagement

Guillaume Lévesque is also involved with Architecture Without Borders Québec (AWBQ) and initiated the Kitcisakik Mission in 2009 with the aim of creating a knowledge transfer and residential renovation project in order to help indigenous populations renovate the buildings themselves. His commitment earned him an Award of Excellence from the Ordre des architectes du Québec in 2011 and the Governor General's medal in architecture in 2012. 


By Naser Nader Ibrahim

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