La Maison montréalaise: A Fusion of French and British Architecture and Building Traditions

In Quebec, la maison québécoise (Quebec style house), and la maison montréalaise (Montreal style house) are two house styles distinctly identified with the province, seen as adaptations of French architecture and building traditions to the climatic and practical needs of New France. The former, a rural style built in wood or stone, is characterized by a gable profile with steep roof slopes and projecting concave curved eaves. The latter, an urban/rural style built in stone, is characterized by gables having sloping parapets, rising to single and/or double chimneys, with the double chimneys often joined by a lower horizontal parapet. The variation of la maison montréalaise having the double chimney with a horizontal parapet is perceived as a unique and distinctive feature. An archetypical example of this is the Chateau de Ramezay in Montreal. While these house styles are perceived as domestic, there is recognition in historical writing that the domestic architecture and building traditions were influenced by exterior sources. While la maison québécoise style is not common outside of Quebec, la maison montréalaise style, in particular the variant with a double chimney joined by a lower horizontal parapet, can be found in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It is the assertion of this paper that this feature is not a design element originating from within Quebec, but is a fusion of French and British architecture and building traditions. Through an exploration of period paintings, prints, maps, and early photographs this assertion will be explored and demonstrated.