Located in the prestigious neighborhood of Outremont, The Edouard-Charles is an unprecedented architectural work of outstanding artistry and workmanship. The building forms an environment where the past and the present folds distinctively and harmoniously together. The geometry of the building effectively connects the interior spaces to the outside by using the exterior spaces as the focal point in which the building wraps itself around. The residents can therefore connect with the exterior through its multilevel panoramic windows.
With it’s meticulously restored front facade holding over 100 years of heritage, this architectural marvel blends delicately with its surroundings while the distinctive extension is a contemporary gesture giving it a fresh and dominant appearance.
Exterior Materials:
The exterior of the building is characterized by an astonishing curtain wall overlooking the restored front facade. Framed with deep black fibrocement boards, this addition is slightly pushed back from the existing front facade, giving the impression that the new architecture has rose from the existing building mass. Lastly, to top it all off, the building is crowned on the fourth floor facade with imported composite stone slabs, symbolizing its strength.
Other significant features of the building are the tailored corrugated panels cladding the back of the building. The choice of modern materials further emphasized the contemporary and timeless appearance of the building. As a contrast with the contemporary materials, a long wooden screen is towering up around the exterior staircase bringing freshness to the cityscape and breaching the corrugated rhythm.
Interior materials:
Each unit is unique and different from one another and all share a consistency of architectural details and built quality.
The common areas are no exception. From the entrance, the interior staircase will sustain its beauty over the years with its steel structure and perforated metal railing. Strong and elegant, the metallic staircase allows transparency and intimacy. Large ceramic stone like tiles cover the main entrance floor and drift up the steps of the staircase. Next to the bright and welcoming entrance, the lighting design of the 2nd floor common corridor highlights the 8 feet tall satin black doors when approaching the private dwellings. A meticulous herringbone pattern ceramic tiles on the floor identify the circulation of space with richness and sophistication, all to hint what the interior is comprised of.
Throughout the building, the threshold between walls and floors, vertical and horizontal planes, is meticulously designed. The recessed detail allows the walls to float above the floors bringing lightness to the space as well as making the floors extend beyond the walls giving no solid boundaries to its superficies.
