by arslan_ahmed | October 25, 2023 2:05 pm
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The passive-house retrofit of an almost half-century-old auto garage in Eastern Townships, Quebec, has produced excellent energy efficiency results for the property, and will soon achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification.
The renovation, led by the design-build team of Atelier L’Abri and Construction Modulor, commenced with the careful removal of the building’s old envelope, preserving the original wooden frame that defines Maison Melba’s iconic mansard-style silhouette.
Within this framework, a double-stud wall system was installed to enhance insulation, with walls filled with recycled paper-based cellulose fibre and outer panels made from recycled wood fibre. Triple-glazed PassivHaus-certified windows complement the structure, promoting passive solar principles and achieving an air tightness rating of 0.37 air changes per hour (ACH) at 50 Pa (1.044 psf).
The building design incorporates a central void that welcomes natural light, with local stone flooring connecting the indoors with the outdoors beneath a high skylight. The entrance doors to the house and workshop open onto a plant-adorned communal alleyway.
Inside, the open layout is elegantly furnished to create a ambiance that celebrates natural materials. Notable elements include Douglas Fir flooring by Dinesen, artisanal lime-plastered walls, white oak furniture, hemlock wood cladding by Kebony, linen curtains by Bisson Bruneel textiles, and expansive wood-framed windows. The carefully selected furniture features pieces are from international design houses such as Vipp, Dinesen, Frama, Santa & Cole, and Ligne Roset.
The workshop area features industrial-grade materials conducive to collaboration and creativity. Modular kitchens blend with the overall design, and carefully selected lighting completes the atmosphere.
Maison Melba’s exterior radiates timelessness, harmonizing with its natural surroundings. A steel roof ensures longevity, while the wood planks weather from brown to gray over time. The former garage structure, nestled beneath a weeping willow tree, integrates with native flora, becoming a picturesque element.
The landscape design was carried out by Écomestible, a firm specializing in ecological, edible, and regenerative landscaping inspired by permaculture principles. This project not only achieves extraordinary energy efficiency, but it also exemplifies a commitment to sustainable architecture in a picturesque corner of Quebec.
Source URL: https://www.constructioncanada.net/makeover-endows-exceptional-energy-efficiency-on-1970s-quebec-garage/
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