House at 18 de Gaspé. Photo: Maxime Brouillet. | Résidence au 18 rue de Gaspé. Photo: Maxime Brouillet.
La SHED Architecture, a nine-person office, was founded in 2011 by Renée Mailhot, MIRAC, Sébastien Parent and Yannick Laurin. The trio graduated in 2008 from the University of Montreal, where they met. Their work includes free-standing houses and additions in tight urban contexts as well as small commercial projects and vacation properties.
Driven by a love for their city and enthusiasm for the intimate relationship between individuals and architecture in their day-to-day lives, the founders have focused on smaller-scale residential design?a niche that has been underserved by architectural firms. The firm?s name alludes to its work, which expresses the eclecticism of Montreal?s alleyways and the old structures typically found behind the city?s homes. They are inspired by the informal qualities of the city?s residential lanes. As recent graduates without clients, Renée, Sébastien and Yannick bought a duplex on De Bullion Street and converted it into a single-family dwelling. It became a laboratory where they could test and apply what they had learned. With the visibility generated by this project, they slowly built a portfolio.
L? Aire Visuelle showroom. Photo: Maxime Brouillet. | Salle d?expo-?sition de l?Aire Visuelle. Photo: Maxime Brouillet.
During the first three years after graduation, they interned in larger firms, spending evenings and weekends on la SHED p...