La Cardinale

The renovation project by McComber in Montréal opens the living spaces, makes the most of the natural light and garden view, and preserves the spirit of a family home filled with memories.

For a long time, this semi-detached house built in the 1950s in Montréal’s Ville-Saint-Laurent neighbourhood was home to a family of three young children. Over the years, many extensions were added to its aging structure. After the children fled the coop, the house was due to undergo major renovations, particularly to meet the needs of the owner’s new lifestyle. The owner entrusted his project to L. McComber architects with three goals in mind: open the living spaces, make the most of the natural light and garden view, and preserve the spirit of this family home filled with memories.

From the street, the existing facade is Tudor-inspired, with its wooden half-timbering and plaster on the second floor. The classic pattern is most obvious above the garage on the gable wall. By extending this space towards the back, a connection is created between the two sides of the house. On the side facade, red clay brick wraps around the ground floor to the deck.

Inside, the living spaces are open-plan. By strategically removing certain partitions, the ground‑floor layout opens the heart of the house onto the backyard. Right in the middle of the opened space, the large kitchen island reveals a change in level that offers a standing workstation on one side and a few seats on the other. Above, a narrow walkway connects the master bedroom to its bathroom, providing a spectacular top view into the yard on one side and the living area below on the other.