ShoeBox CHB | Alexandre Bernier Architecte

Located in Montreal’s Petit Laurier neighborhood, ShoeBox CHB reinterprets a typical vernacular shoebox house to support contemporary family life. The project introduces a recessed stainless steel addition, using light, proportion, and material restraint to extend the existing structure without altering its modest presence on the street.

The original volume and front façade were preserved, maintaining continuity with the surrounding urban fabric. Set back from the street and aligned with the neighboring context, the new upper level is clad in satin-finished stainless steel, selected for its reflective qualities and subdued expression. The addition reads as a quiet intervention—distinct yet complementary to the existing house.

Natural light organizes the interior. A central stair topped by a generous skylight brings daylight deep into the plan, while large openings at the rear connect the main living spaces to the garden and terrace. Despite limited footprint and challenging orientation, the project prioritizes spatial clarity, fluid circulation, and visual continuity.

Interior finishes are restrained and tactile - light wood, polished concrete, and white surfaces - allowing light and everyday life to animate the spaces. Vegetation, both framed and integrated, softens the architecture and reinforces the indoor–outdoor relationship.

ShoeBox CHB proposes an approach to residential expansion defined by discretion, contextual awareness, and durability, demonstrating how modest typologies can be carefully transformed to meet contemporary needs.

Photography: Maxime Brouillet (https://en.maximebrouillet.com)