Pearl House by MXMA Architecture & Design in Montreal, Canada

Project: Pearl House Architects: MXMA Architecture & Design Location: Montreal, Canada Area: 197.7 sq.m Photography: Annie Fafard

Pearl House by MXMA Architecture & Design

The Pearl House in Montreal, Canada, designed by MXMA Architecture & Design, is an example of the concept of a house as a sanctuary. The design is based on a large block containing the original home and a new main bedroom. The empty space created by carving out part of the block forms an inner courtyard, highlighting the large maple tree. Natural light flows through the house, revealing surfaces with warm contrasting textures. The backyard becomes a space for family relaxation and socializing.

The L-shaped layout is divided into four zones where the living room, kitchen, and dining area form a large central common space. The design emphasizes the use of certified wood and metal to create an eco-friendly exterior finish with improved thermal insulation. The materials, spatial organization, and energy strategies of the house enhance family quality of life and their connection with nature. The innovative kitchen design includes black cabinets and countertops, creating an elegant minimalist look. Pearl House is a valuable work of art that demonstrates the importance of family and cultural identity.

The Pearl House originated from a simple and strong concept: the house as an element of design should be a place of sanctuary.

To achieve this goal, the architect presented the house as one large block containing the original building and a new main bedroom. Then he removed part of this block to create an empty space - an inner courtyard, a protected place that highlights the large maple tree in the center of the garden. This subtraction allowed natural light to flow through the entire layout, revealing surfaces with warm contrasting textures. The backyard became a cozy indoor-outdoor space where the family can gather for dinner, play or simply relax.

One of the key tasks during the house renovation was to address the relationship between different parts of the roof. The original building had a sloped roof, as well as a flat mansard roof whose shape did not match the architectural style of the house. To create a continuous and homogeneous volume, the architect decided to demolish the mansard and then expand the surfaces of the existing roof to cover the new main bedroom, while retaining the existing lines and eaves. As a result, the original house naturally evolved to become part of a harmonious whole.

The L-shaped layout is divided into four zones. The northern zone represents intimate connected spaces. Children's bedrooms located in the original building use existing windows, minimizing facade work. The new bathroom separating these rooms provides acoustic comfort. In the new extension, the main bedroom is located on the same axis. It includes a spacious bathroom and walk-in closet. A 6-meter wide sliding door allows the couple to fully enjoy the garden from their bedroom.

The living room, kitchen and dining area are combined into a large central space. With 4.6-meter-high ceilings, full-height windows on the entire floor, sufficient built-in storage and transformable spaces, this large room invites family members to share unique moments while enjoying an abundance of natural light and a cozy view of nature. On the western end are functional zones such as the garage and foyer with laundry area. Finally, a large cedar terrace oriented toward the backyard frames the first floor, allowing interior spaces to extend outward and creating a feeling of spaciousness.

The idea of enclosing valuable interior spaces within a shell became an opportunity to celebrate natural light and vegetation, as well as demonstrate wood as a strong and living material. In the backyard, vertical walls and suspended structures of the new roof are covered with western red cedar boards. To strengthen the connection between interior and exterior spaces, the same material was used inside the dwelling. White oak floors in the same tone as walls and ceilings give rooms a cozy and warm character.

Special attention was given to the use of certified wood and metal to create a durable and eco-friendly exterior finish. The outer walls, composed of alternating columns, provide excellent thermal insulation which is economical in the long term. For lighting living spaces and natural heat gain from the sun on the southern side of the building, high-performance glazed windows were installed. Additionally, all trees on the site were preserved.

The central element of the new house design was a large maple tree located in the heart of the garden, which became itself an architectural element valued for its ecological, aesthetic and social benefits. Furthermore, the team planted three new trees to reduce the urban heat island effect. With its style, materials, spatial organization and variable energy strategies, Pearl House is a definition of eco-friendly architecture that significantly enhances family quality of life for those who dreamed of living in contact with nature.

Inspired by materials, colors and textures, the kitchen of Pearl House is a warm space open to the entire family and perfectly integrated into the overall concept of the house. The black metal cladding surrounding the home's body folds inward, becoming wall-mounted black cabinets: the central element of an elegant kitchen. This innovative solution strengthens the idea of architectural continuity between interior and exterior.

The color black, which in Korean culture symbolizes craftsmanship and the cycle of our life, is reflected in the matte black finish of cabinets and countertops. Thus, the fully integrated kitchen style gives new life to the heart of the house, expressing a close cultural identity for the owners. The dark kitchen furniture also sharply contrasts with bright white oak floors and an abundance of light in interior spaces. Finally, multiple storage areas that meet the daily needs of the family are hidden behind large doors and integrated into interior architecture, creating a functional space with true minimalist aesthetic taste.

Finally, Pearl House can be seen as a valuable work of art - an innovative and protective shell containing a treasure: the family.

–MXMA Architecture & Design