MELLEM Les Trembles housing in Gatineau features arched brick base by ACDF Architecture

ACDF Architecture has completed MELLEM Les Trembles, a multifamily housing project in Gatineau that uses arched brick architecture to anchor collective living at street level.

Developed in collaboration with Maître Carré, the project comprises 189 rental apartments ranging from studios to five bedroom units. Rather than isolating residents within private amenities, the architects concentrated most shared spaces on the ground floor, creating a direct relationship between housing and the public realm.

A sequence of large brick arches forms the defining architectural gesture of the building. Referencing the classical colonnade, the arches establish a strong sense of permanence while remaining scaled to everyday use. Externally, they give the project a calm monumentality. Internally, they frame intimate communal spaces that encourage social interaction.

According to associate architect Christelle Monteuil Jean Pois, the project aims for quiet elegance, attracting attention through precision rather than visual dominance.

Above the arched base, the building is shaped by soft curves and layered brickwork. Red and white bricks meet along subtle transitions that articulate the volume and define a distinctive urban silhouette. Staggered balconies add rhythm to the facades, while perpendicular wall projections introduce depth and shadow, reinforcing the sense of inhabitation.

Inside, the architectural language continues into the common areas, where arches reappear to organize co working spaces, a communal kitchen, a gym, and lounge areas. Light toned walls maximize daylight, while darker ceilings absorb exposed technical elements, producing interiors that feel both economical and welcoming.

A central staircase aligned with the main entrance leads to a shared lounge that opens onto a landscaped courtyard above the first parking level.

The C shaped building is organized around a west facing garden, achieving a balanced density without excessive height. Parking is partially embedded within the site’s natural slope and prioritizes sustainable mobility, with extensive bicycle storage and electric vehicle charging stations.

MELLEM Les Trembles demonstrates how carefully composed housing can combine density, durability, and shared urban life, offering a model for contemporary collective living in Canadian cities.

Project Credit

Project name: Mellem Gatineau, Canada
Location: Gatineau, Canada
Architecture & Interior Design: ACDF Architecture / @acdfarchitecture
Photo: Adrien Williams / @adrienwilliamsphotos

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