# Evey: Redefining Living Spaces in a Montreal Triplex

A renovation that subtly transforms living conditions while preserving urban identity.

- **Source:** [Design MilkInterior Design Ideas for Your Modern Home | Design Milk](https://brifing.si/source/1484120b-1655-4db8-bcd5-582962f690ac)
- **Published:** 2026-09-08
- **Topic:** [Design & UX](https://brifing.si/c/design)
- **Original article:** <https://design-milk.com/evey-appareil-architecture-montreal-triplex/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2e44882f-c8c4-4833-be1b-5491335f6bcd

## Context and Location

Evey is located in Montreal's Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood, adjacent to a green alley where daily life intersects with urban discreetness. The project by Appareil Architecture involves renovating and extending one of the existing triplex buildings, a common housing type in Montreal characterized by three stacked units behind a shared facade.

## Architectural Approach

Appareil Architecture did not aim to rethink the triplex typology but to subtly reorient its living conditions. Associate architect Marc-Olivier Champagne-Thomas emphasized balancing intimacy with openness to the urban context. The renovation maintains the building's outward identity as a triplex, focusing on internal transformations.

## Design Philosophy

The project revolves around negotiating the duality between private living spaces and the surrounding urban environment. Champagne-Thomas describes this tension as the guiding thread of the renovation. The adjacent alley serves as a daily test of this balance, where residents' routines meet the broader city life.

## Spatial Organization

Interior designer Esther Leduc explains that the spatial organization is based on a continuous line along the party wall, structuring the entire project. This axis aligns circulation paths, visual openings, and moments of openness, creating a cohesive flow rather than compartmentalized spaces.

## Key Features

The design includes a staircase to the basement, interior windows, and a sightline connecting the front and back of the house. These elements follow the central axis, emphasizing movement and visual continuity. Leduc describes the house as built to be traversed, not divided.

## Material and Aesthetic Choices

Photography by Félix Michaud highlights the restrained material palette and clean lines that define the renovation. The design respects the triplex's original character while introducing modern elements that enhance functionality and aesthetic appeal.

## Urban Integration

The project subtly integrates the triplex into its urban context without overtly altering its exterior. The renovation's success lies in its ability to enhance living conditions while preserving the building's identity and relationship with the neighborhood.

## Impact and Significance

Evey demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform familiar housing typologies without erasing their urban identity. The project sets a precedent for balancing renovation with preservation, offering a model for similar urban housing projects in dense neighborhoods.

## Sources covering this story

- https://design-milk.com/evey-appareil-architecture-montreal-triplex/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
