Referencing the Past
Several elements give the building’s
architecture meaningful connections to the
area’s history. First is the idea of a massive
structure, common under the French regime,
but expressed in a contemporary design
language.
Moreover, features typical to the traditional
neighbourhood houses are integrated into the
project, the inverted roof slopes serving as a
case in point.
This laneway design from the pre-rain gutter
era serves to drain runoff from front and rear
surfaces to a central point.
More pragmatically, the structure’s form allows
the inclusion of a discreet skylight not seen
from the street. The resulting volumetrics
combine to provide a complete solution in
respect of municipal restrictions and the 29-
foot height requirement.
Demonstrating sensitivity to Verdun’s history
are the suspended moulded-glass modules on
the street façade.
This frosted veil, positioned before the 25-
foot front window, evokes memories of the
Dominion Glass Co., founded in 1905, as well as
of the ice-cutters who were so important to the
neighbourhood’s economy in the 19th century.
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