Closse Residence

This suburban house on Closse Street, Saint-Lambert, Canada was built by the previous owner's father in the 1960s. After more than 50 years of use, the house became in urgent need of major renovation. Initially, the rooms lacked natural light due to a series of enclosed spaces surrounding the central staircase. The first step taken by architects from studio _naturehumaine was to open up the south facade with large glazed doors leading to an inner courtyard.

Removing existing partitions allowed light to penetrate deep into the house and illuminate the newly installed sculptural staircase made from hot-rolled steel, maple veneer, and frosted glass; the staircase immediately became the central feature of the home. Two pivot glass doors in the closed position created a winter vestibule. The large stone fireplace was preserved and restored. The exterior of the house was repainted, and all windows were replaced. A carefully selected palette of simple yet vibrant materials unifies the entire house.