E3 House

The E3 House is located in a bustling neighbourhood near the very popular Jean-Talon Market in Montreal. It was designed for a family with a deep attachment to the neighbourhood; the parents work in theatre, film, and television, and the children are young adults.

The exterior geometry of the residence is a simple parallelepiped defined by two largely fenestrated walls on the east and west sides and party walls to the north and south. The orientation of the lot inspired the design of a multi-level house that enables natural light to penetrate. The floors are staggered on either side of the 12-metre-high central atrium that divides the house into two volumes, front and back; a staircase, topped with a skylight, links the different levels.

The large windows situated at both ends of the house and the central skylight allow the sun to reach deep into the interior to create ever-changing plays of natural light and shadow. Thus, the interior environment modulates according to the time of day and the season. Large wooden shutters slide in front of the windows in each room to filter the light at dawn and sunset. To ensure natural ventilation, the windows are facing each other and they all open, as do those in the skylight. The shutters also protect the house from summer heat.

The house is called E3 because it is organized around the cross section of the building. The cross-sectional drawing resembles a capital E linked to a backward E by the intersecting staircase. Each living space and room is on a separate level. The staircase links the six rooms in the house, leading ultimately to a mezzanine studio and a terrace with a view of iconic Mount Royal. On the other side, the skylight looks out on a green roof system, where a small field of lavender will be planted.

The bedrooms open onto the central space through wide pivoting or sliding doors, which expand the space, allow light to enter, and create a depth of perspectives. When the doors are closed, the space is withdrawn, allowing for isolation, privacy, and contemplation.

The volume is structured by integrated architectural elements and finishes that contribute a graphical and sculptural quality to the space. The central staircase, light and airy, and the impressive kitchen island both feature steel and walnut. Cabinets, wardrobes and storage spaces, made with maple-veneer plywood, are vertically arranged to create multi- functional, multi- level monoliths. Outside, marine-grade plywood stained to a dark espresso colour lines the walls and ceilings of large alcoves to mark both front and back entrances. The project’s program includes a code of materials with simple, repetitive colours: polished concrete, natural steel, wood and blue tiles. The interplay of these materials creates stunning graphical compositions that resemble abstract paintings.

About NDA Natalie Dionne Architecte

Trained in architecture and video art, Natalie Dionne opened Natalie Dionne Architecte in 2000. Her work engages a sophisticated exploration of the links between art and architecture, film, and interior design. Early in her career she worked with artists on the production and installation of public art. In 2008, she collaborated with her partner, Martin Laneuville, on the Maison en U (U House), an urban residence focused inwards around an interior courtyard that accommodates both their family home and studio office. When it was completed in 2008, Laneuville left the film and television industry to join Dionne full time in design development. The U house received a Prix d’excellence from the Ordre des architectes du Québec in 2009.

Official name of project: MAISON E3
Location: MONTRÉAL
Client name: unavailable
Architect/designer: Natalie Dionne Architecte
Project manager: Natalie Dionne
Design team: Natalie Dionne and Martin Laneuville
Contributor: Claude Lafrance
Engineer: Alain Mousseau of Calculatec
Contractor: Pierre Aubin
Steel: Paul Duchaîne
Cabinetmaker: Stéphane Bilodeau
Artwork: François Vincent
Area of project: 300 square meters
Cost of work: unavailable
Date of project completion: 2012
Photographer: Marc Cramer