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ELI
By : ADHOC architectes
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Residential Building / Apartment & Condo of 5 to 9 storeys : Silver Certification
Residential complex of 81 units advantageously located in downtown Montreal, the ELI project meets the initial challenge: to design sustainable and high-quality architecture, perfectly integrated into a decidedly urban context.
In an effort to develop a sustainable project, architectural integration quickly became a leitmotif for the team. Considering that the plot is located at the corner of Ste-Catherine and Ste-Élisabeth streets, the new construction had to align with these two very different facades. Aligning with the adjacent heights, the project’s volumetrics were defined by a stratification of the building. These divisions create a tripartite composition typical of the area. Highlighting this fragmented composition, each layer is marked by the shifting of a unique volume. This displacement of volumes energizes the project while emphasizing the facade alignments. The created basilar comprises large openings in the commercial continuation of Sainte-Catherine Street. In consideration of intimacy and acoustics, the first two floors offer small openings, a typical pattern for the area. As one ascends — moving away from noise and prying eyes — the floors feature larger openings. Thus, there is a gradation between the proportion of windows and masonry from bottom to top. This fine work in varying the pattern responds to both technical considerations and integration issues. Furthermore, since the same attention to detail is applied to both street facades, there are no longer primary or secondary facades; the corner is highlighted and contributes to the street’s dynamism.
From the outside, the project constitutes a fully successful integration. The architectural qualities of the project were also meant to permeate the interior of these meticulously designed walls. Thus was born the desire to create a strong contrast between two Montreal singularities. The project reflects this emblematic duality of the city with, on one side, its classic exterior architecture and, on the other, an interior design imbued with local culture. With sections of walls covered in murals and graffiti, the dichotomy between these two facets of the city is showcased here; through understated architecture where street art is invited.
The project’s proximity to the Pub Ste-Élisabeth terrace is also noteworthy, especially considering the collective memory associated with it. Therefore, everything in the design has been implemented to preserve its character. Through a system of double masonry facades and metal lattice, the omnipresent Virginia creeper at St-Élisabeth can continue to grow on this new screen. This effort of integration and preservation of the place allows both the residents and terrace users to maintain their privacy while highlighting the uniqueness of the place and achieving acoustic performances exceeding expectations.
In the end, the whole is a contemporary reinterpretation of Montreal architecture, drawing inspiration from the patterns, masonry details, and opening dimensions found in the neighborhood. The integration of these elements echoes the new construction and anchors it in its environment. All these responses provided by the project to the challenges of urban integration are so contextualized that the project itself only makes sense on this specific site. Located in a dynamic urban environment and a heterogeneous built environment, the success of the project lies precisely in the accuracy of its integration.
Collaboration
Real Estate Developer : Omnia Technologies
Engineering : L2C Experts Conseil
