A Renovation That Pays Respect to its Original Character & a Tree

With a desire to respect the home’s original character and the large poplar tree in the backyard, Microclimat Architecture planned a low-impact intervention to this centennial home in the Plateau Mont-Royal in Montreal, Canada. The family wanted to give the Hotel-de-Ville Residence an update that also created a connection between the home and the surrounding environment.

The new mezzanine level, which houses the master bedroom, cantilevers out on both sides of the home. It appears to be floating above the other two floors and only required a minimal amount of modifications to the original structure.

Double height windows on the back of the house provide natural light to the interior.

The interior is kept simple with white walls and surfaces and light woods.

The home’s layout was completely redone, which included a new staircase that connects all of the floors. It also mimics the verticality of the tree that sits right outside from it.

Photos by Adrien Williams, courtesy of v2com.

Caroline Williamson is the former Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk and a writer with a passion for modern design, architecture, and creative culture. She holds a BFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, solving New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or curating Spotify playlists.

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