The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Thomas Balaban’s Holy Cross House

Photos: Adrien Williams
Located in Montreal’s southwest and recipient of the Residential Space (1,600-3,200 ft2) Award at Québec’s Grands Prix du Design 2014 the Holy Cross House by Thomas Balaban Architect looks overly simplified from the street, but it belies an interior that is anything but blando ballet.

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Living room features massive window treatments to increase sunlight into the enitre house Photo: Adrien Williams

According to the v2com press release, “The 300 m2 detached house hides a rich spatial complexity behind its tough working class façade. Turning to the neighbourhood’s post-war veterans home as its formal point of departure, the architects set out to make a house that simultaneously fits in and stands out from its heterogeneous context without resorting to mimicry and without sacrificing the contemporary nature of the project.”

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Master bath incorporates design aesthetics and proportions from the rest of the house Photo: Adrien Williams

Because of the tight packaging and lot size, getting light into the living spaces was a significant challenge. But according to the release, “…by flipping the traditional vertical hierarchy found in most two storey homes and by carving out a series of spaces from the house’s volume, the project was able to address the need for exposure to direct light and concerns about maintaining privacy.”

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Living room as seen from the inside shows the amount of direct light entering the space Photo: Adrien Williams

By placing the living spaces upstairs, the design provides optimal sunlight to the most important rooms. And by “carving out of the house’s volume, the light available at the center of the lot is drawn down into the heart of the house and additional private outdoor spaces are provided for each room.”

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Image shows how light enters the courtyard and upper levels, then perforates throughout Photo: Adrien Williams
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Holy Cross House’s facade belies its funky, open aired interior space Photo: Adrien Williams

A “staggered central outdoor courtyard” was incorporated to funnel light all the way down to the house’s lowest levels, which was critical as all rooms have access to this central space. Adding to the importance that light plays within the Holy Cross’ design are full-height windows located at different levels that provide a “theatrical quality to the courtyard space.” The windows also allow residents to keep one another in line of sight from most any spot in the house.

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The kitchen opens up to the rooftop terrace decked out with beautiful rich hardwood treatments Photo: Adrien Williams
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Rendering shows how light is orchestrated to work and play throughout the space

The interior design not only enhances light-flow but also provides for more efficient natural ventilation and air movement throughout the space. Stacked staircases running parallel to the courtyard and a north-facing opening at the top of the space make for a cooling chimney effect while south facing glazing increases direct solar gain in winter. Radiant concrete floors also help to warm the space during Montreal’s less than balmy winter months.

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Dining room Photo: Adrien Williams

From the outside the house is euphemistically referred to as “restrained, light and monochromatic, with emphasis on overall form over components and details.” To bring unity and harmony to the house Balaban and Co decided to go with a standing seam aluminum cladding that could serve as both roofing and wall cladding. Flat concrete panels were used as accent pieces around doors and windows to match the metal cladding’s look and feel.

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Kitchen is organized around the island and the storage wall which both use the same heat-treated white oak. Photo: Adrien Williams
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Kitchen showing island and storage unit with contrasting wood finishes Photo: Adrien Williams

From the release, “…the interior is also kept uniform, strategically articulated with warm touches appearing in the millwork and central stair. Pale, mat polished concrete floors and unarticulated white walls place the focus on the homeowners’ collection of art and design objects.”

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Dark finishes on staircases and wood inlaid stairs help offset the overt whiteness of the space Photo: Adrien Williams

The home’s kitchen is organized around two key elements; the island and the storage wall which both use the same heat-treated white oak in their build and finishes. The rich wood works to bring warmth and contrast to an otherwise cold, bleak space.

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Narrow but highly contemporized powder room contrasts significantly with the rest of the space Photo: Adrien Williams

The “darker, graphic tones” in the bathrooms are intended to contrast with the home’s overall mandate and play against the vegetation that’s visible through the many windows populating the exterior.

Source: v2com

Angus Mackenzie

Canadian born automotive & architectural photographer. elemente magazine was born in 2006 as a Canadian national design publication . It remains as an online entity.

2 thoughts on “The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Thomas Balaban’s Holy Cross House

  • January 23, 2016 at 3:56 am
    Permalink

    Would love to know if it is possible to get a subscription. Editing magazines and had forgotten
    Elemente…..unfortunately. Loved the Zaha Hadid 2009 issue. Thank you.

    Reply
    • January 31, 2016 at 7:42 am
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      Hi,
      Thanks for the note. Unfortunately elemente is no longer available in print format.
      Only updating the site with fresh content occasionally.
      Angus

      Reply

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