Iberville
Moving up a shoe(box) size
Twenty years ago, a couple bought a one-storey “shoebox” house. Soon that couple became a family, and eventually they had a teenage boy on their hands. Families grow. Shoeboxes, however, take a little imagination and work to keep up.
Major expansion was on the table. Adding another level would increase living space, but the new structure couldn’t distort the nature of the building, so a mezzanine was the answer.
Three large skylights pull daylight into every room. The driving principles behind the kitchen design are simplicity and efficiency, and it boasts an extendible table that can accommodate up to 14 guests. The master bedroom and bathroom enjoy an uninterrupted view of the old working-class neighbourhood of Rosemont and the passive stack ventilation keeps the house cool even during Montreal’s notoriously hot summers.
