The Site
This triangular site is located near Lock #4 of the Lachine Canal, and it is bounded on two sides by water. The Canal is split at the East end of the site: the main Canal is on the South side of the site with a bike path running parallel to it; and another part of the Canal is on the North-West side and terminates at Rue Basin. The West side of the site is bounded by Rue des Seigneurs.

Ideas
The house is organized around an interior courtyard with a reflective pond. In contrast to water in motion (Lachine Canal), which stimulates the senses; still water (interior courtyard) stimulates the soul.

The southern exposure of the house is glaced with glass panels looking into the courtyard, which increases solar gain during the winter while maintaining privacy. Masonry bricks act as thermal masses to increase the thermal storage inside the house.

The kitchen and dining room open onto a raised terrace which looks into the bike path. A wall above the sightline of pedestrians is built between the terrace and the bike path, so that people on the bike path cannot look directly into the house, but the inhabitant, on the other hand, can use the terrace and enjoy the panorama of the Canal.

Another terrace is on the North-East side of the house accessible from the master bedroom and the living room. The terrace is connected to the Canal by stairs which leads into the water.