The Coteau Vert co-operative wanted to improve the building quality of community housing and integrate sustainable measures and systems within a limited budget. In order to meet the unique needs of our clients and to offer them the best possible support, we obtained a grant from CMHC. The grant allowed us to set up an effective collaborative design system with all stakeholders, both professionals and citizens, and A Roof for All.
During the design period, the public, tenants, architects and clients participate in a series of roundtable discussions, organised by L’OEUF, creating an energetic narrative for real common benefit. Ellen Wood was designed for seniors and families, simplifying the maintenance that is usually required.
“I love my flat. It’s bright and warm and I have almost no heating bill, but the most exciting thing is living in this community with a lot of idealistic people…” Frank Suerich, tenant.

The new development of Camp Kanawana was designed to make better use of the existing property. Recognized as a valuable natural resource in the eyes of the community, the site had to be enriched and designed in a sustainable manner.

The main objective was to create a physical infrastructure that would introduce new traditions to the camp, promoting community living and highlighting the idea of “living delicately on our planet”.
We have integrated many of the YMCA’s cherished goals into our thinking and work.
The promotion and encouragement of active living and the appreciation of the outdoors for all, especially for youth.
We wanted to make the site accessible to a larger and more diverse group of users so that as many people as possible could enjoy a year-round experience in nature. This was done by imagining a physical separation that was large enough to not lose the sense of wilderness.
We had to find a harmonious balance between forest, prairie, wetlands, lakes and human facilities such as buildings, campsites, trails and other infrastructure.
We were able to design, manage and build the program to conserve and restore natural sites where necessary.
In envisioning and implementing a sustainable design for the camp, we also chose to share our knowledge and expertise in order to develop a sense of responsibility for the natural environment by using the site as an outdoor learning classroom.
Overall, we are pleased to have participated in promoting a sense of responsibility for the surrounding community by emphasizing respect for the natural environment and the diverse population enjoying the site.

L’habitation Chez Soi is an affordable housing development that is the result of an effective and committed collaboration between L’OEUF and the residents of the area. Closely linked to the Benny Farm project, together they form one of the largest government-subsidised, community-led neighbourhood renewal projects. This project combined affordability, green building technologies and adaptability for seniors, and followed the AccèsLogis guide.
Chez-soi and Benny Farm allowed us to put in place many of the methods for effective management, scheduling, costing and communication between the various stakeholders. Our role as coordinator for our client has enabled us to deliver an exceptional project in an accelerated and dynamic manner.

“Chez-soi is a very good project: it’s affordable senior housing, open to the street, open to the community, and it’s going to remain affordable because the building is energy efficient.
Bob Butter, Chez-soi Chairman of the Board.

Benny Farm is first and foremost a project that puts forward a model of global ecology: social, ethical, technical and financial. Located in the Notre-Dame-De-Grâce district of Montreal, this project involves the construction of 187 housing units spread over 4 properties, while linking them by a shared green infrastructure. Winner of the HOLCIM Foundation Awards for Sustainable Architecture, 1st prize for North America in 2005 and 3rd prize internationally in 2006, Benny Farm combines low and high technology strategies, within and between buildings in rehabilitation and new construction. The major overall innovation is the integration of a community process, sustainable building systems and the principle of co-ownership into the affordable housing sector. Our role in this project was as much that of a social activist as an architect. This is the first multi-stakeholder partnership in the affordable housing sector where long-term sustainability issues were addressed head-on and made central to the project.
The project proposed a building protocol that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, potable water and wastewater use, and limits material waste through rehabilitation and retrofitting, reuse and recycling of waste. Most of the energy is from renewable sources, so the partners are considerably protected from energy cost increases. These closely linked and mutually dependent systems contribute to improving the quality of life of Benny Farm residents. This is a model project in which we have put our full range of sustainable skills at the service of our client.