Contemporary ‘Black Box’ Home Extension in Montreal

Natalie Dionne Architecture completed BLACK BOX II, an architecture addition for a residence in Montreal, Canada. Conceived as a jewelry box, the extension is covered with large plates of black fiber cement, with a perforated motif for the loggia, assembled with matching rivets. In contrast, blond wood and light porcelain and ceramics illuminate the interior.

Large windows fold open to incorporate the garden into the home. Inside, oak wood paneling covers the walls and ceiling, while western red cedar lines the exterior alcove. The kitchen island, made of solid oak, stands monumentally in the center and witnesses the daily rituals of the inhabitants. The slate slabs of the terrace adjoin the concrete-like porcelain floor of the kitchen.

This semi-detached townhouse, made of red clay brick, is typical of Westmount and the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood of Montreal.

“Through the reconfiguration of outdated internal divisions and the grafting of two black volumes in juxtaposition, the architecture is enhanced and transformed to better reflect the modern lifestyle and aspirations of its inhabitants,” the architects said. Photos and information by Natalie Dionne Architecture.