Images and information are provided courtesy of architect theodore Thomas Balaban There is a deep spatial complexity hidden beneath the rough working-class front of this 300 square meter detached home, which is situated in the southwest neighborhood of Quebec, which is experiencing rapid development. The architectural firm Thomas Balaban Architects has taken the post-war veteran’s home in the neighborhood as its formal point of departure. Their goal is to create a house that is both a part of its diverse context and stands out from it at the same time. They want to do this without resorting to mimicry and without sacrificing the contemporary nature of the project. In light of the fact that the plot was compact and the amount of direct sunshine that was available was restricted to the center of the plot, the most significant obstacle consisted of delivering light into the living areas. The proposal satisfies the need for exposure to direct light as well as the obligatory requirement for seclusion by inverting the usual vertical hierarchy that is seen in the majority of two-story houses and by carving out a number of areas from the volume of the building. The staggered center outdoor courtyard, which was designed to direct light all the way down to the lowest level of the house, is one of the properties that stands out the most about this house. This core area is accessible from each and every one of the rooms. The courtyard area is given a dramatic character by full-height windows that are located at various levels. These windows also help to keep the sensation of the whole house being lived in, since the residents are aware of each other’s movement around the house. The open central nature of the courtyard, along with its spatial transparency, enables a significant amount of natural light to penetrate the space. Additionally, it facilitates the efficient movement of air and natural ventilation within the protected microclimate, which contributes to the generation of passive solar energy. A cooling chimney effect is created within the home by the stacked stairs that run parallel to the courtyard. The top of the staircases has an entrance that faces north, which contributes to the overall effect. The home has a limited amount of glazing on the north facade and optimizes the amount of glass that faces south for direct solar gain throughout the winter. Another function of the radiant concrete flooring is to act as a tiny thermal mass, which helps to reduce the effects of temperature variations on the outside. A modest, light, and monochrome exterior design is used for the home, with an emphasis placed on the overall shape rather than the components and details. The composition of the house is brought together by a standing-seam aluminum cladding in a natural color. This cladding may be used for both the roofing and the wall cladding. The use of flat concrete panels that have been painted to match the color of the metal cladding results in the creation of subtle accents around doors and windows. With contrast to the chilly vertical surfaces, the many terraces are draped in warm ipé decking, which draws attention to the fact that the living rooms extend out into the surrounding environment. The inside is likewise maintained homogeneous, strategically articulated with warm accents emerging in the millwork and central stair, which stands in stark contrast to the spatial complexity that is produced by the center courtyard. The homeowners’ collection of art and design artifacts is well complemented by the unarticulated white walls and neutral, matt-polished concrete flooring that offer the ideal background for the collection. The kitchen is straightforwardly structured around two components: the storage wall and the island, both of which are made from the same material, which is white oak that has been subjected to heat treatment. When contrasted with the white walls and the light gray floor, the deep chocolate color of the wood stands out. In addition, the darker, more graphic tones of the bathrooms and the ever-changing greenery that can be seen via the windows that are perforating the façade of the home provide moments of contrasting exuberance. The home has a feeling of theatricality that is enhanced by these architectural elements. It is only natural that the residence was selected as the winner of the residential space 1,600-3,200 square feet category at the 14th annual Quebec Grand Prix du Design. Here is a link to the photographs that can be found on indiaartndesign.com:
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