A galvanizing house reno
Dezeen’s got a house renovation this weekend, a small house on Berri with “a residential extension wrapped in galvanised metal.” Check out that matte black kitchen too.
Would it be so difficult to “wrap” an extension in brick to fit in with the structures around it?
Also like “The Berri House is located on a short street in Montreal” given that Berri stretches from the St Lawrence to the Back River, albeit with a few breaks.
Blork 12:07 on 2022-02-20 Permalink
I have notes.
First, it probably would be hard (although not impossible) to clad the extension in brick, because the extension is elevated and there isn’t a bottom platform to carry the weight of the bricks. Regardless, I think the metal cladding is fine. It’s set back from the street, and is barely visible when the tree has leaves. Plus it’s an extension, not a primary facade, and it coordinates well with the grey fence.
The inside is another story. I like modern architecture, and much of what some people see as “sterile” actually appeals to me. But not this place.
First of all, if you want a modern house, build (or buy) a modern house. Converting a 1910 house to a modern interior is not the way to go. (Adding modern touches to century home is one thing, but completely re-doing the interior is another.) That said, the nicest room in the house is the extension; it’s no coincidence that the extension is new and modern inside and out.
I don’t like the plywood. I’ve seen plywood used successfully, but in this case it just makes that part of the interior seem unfinished.
The exposed floor structure — which on the main floor is exposed ceiling — is also not great. I suppose it looks OK, but whenever I’ve been in a place with that kind of ceiling there has been zero soundproofing between floors. If you’re going to live in a very expensive renovated house, the least you should expect is to not hear every thump-thump-thump of the people upstairs (even if they’re your own kids).
That black kitchen. No. Just no. Light and visibility is very important in a kitchen. Not only for that warm and fuzzy “homeyness” but also so you can see WTF you’re doing when you’re cooking.
Love the breakfast bar (if only the counter top were not black.)
The address is 4705 Berri.
DeWolf 12:54 on 2022-02-20 Permalink
I love the extension. I like the way the metallic cladding reflects the light, and the sheltered space underneath is interesting. But the interiors are cold and uninviting. The whole vibe is more office than home.
I can understand why you’d want to gut the interiors and build something more modern, though. A lot of Montreal apartments have very little vintage charm left, just crooked floors and ten layers of lead paint on whatever woodwork hasn’t been stripped out or massacred.
As for modernist interventions in a historic setting, I think thoughtful contrast is always better than imitation. We aren’t in the 1910s anymore and if you try to build something that looks just like its century-old neighbours, it’s going to look like it got lost on its way to Disneyland.
qatzelok 14:07 on 2022-02-20 Permalink
The metallic cladding is a nice reference to the sheds that normally resided behind many plexes.
The black kitchen is design-over-function.
GC 14:52 on 2022-02-20 Permalink
Calling Berri a “short street” is laughable. I don’t expect the writer to be in Montreal, but couldn’t they spend the five seconds to look at a Google map?
Kate 16:22 on 2022-02-20 Permalink
Blork, is there a breakfast bar? I can’t see one, but maybe it’s black on black.
qatzelok, you have a point re metal-clad sheds. There are still some of those around.
Blork 17:06 on 2022-02-20 Permalink
The large kitchen counter has a row of seats on the far side (closest to the dining table). I assume that’s what’s meant by “breakfast bar…”
Blork 17:09 on 2022-02-20 Permalink
I just looked again. The counter is designed to accommodate seats, but there are no seats in the photos.