The renovation and expansion of this Montreal duplex, crafted by the local architecture firm Naturehumaine, is characterized by striking deep red accents and a classic redbrick exterior. Dubbed Le Petit Merlot due to its vibrant color scheme, the project revitalizes a 1920s structure that houses two apartments in the Plateau Mont-Royal area. Naturehumaine skillfully preserved the building’s historical essence by restoring its original redbrick facade while introducing a modern, glazed rear facade that opens up to the garden, elegantly framed in red steel.
The studio elaborated that Le Petit Merlot is designed to resonate with the essence of its neighborhood, drawing inspiration from its unique characteristics. The front facade, with its heritage charm and limited windows, stands in stark contrast to the rear facade, which embraces transparency across four levels, creating a dynamic interplay of light and space.
To maintain a cohesive visual identity, the project employs a palette of red hues. This theme is intricately woven into various elements, including the selection of brick, window mullions, parapet flashings, and the painted hemlock lintels, as well as the striking painted steel wall covering, all contributing to a unified aesthetic.
The lower unit of the duplex, spanning the basement and ground floor, is thoughtfully designed to foster a strong connection with the garden. The main bedroom and office overlook a sunken gravel patio, enhanced by a stepped, weathered steel planter, creating a serene outdoor retreat that invites nature inside.
On the ground floor, an additional bedroom complements a spacious living, dining, and kitchen area, which seamlessly extends to a decked wooden patio at the garden’s end. To enhance the spatial quality of the lower accommodation and mitigate the feeling of being below ground, a recess allows for expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing in both the bedroom and office.
Given the area’s height restrictions, the upper apartment features a clever mezzanine level that houses a kitchen and dining area, leading out to a rooftop terrace. The warm, reddish-brown tones of the exterior are echoed in the interior design through window frames, light fixtures, and a deep “library” reveal with built-in shelving, while pale wood floors and white walls provide a refreshing contrast throughout the living spaces.