Zoning and craft in Montreal's 'Plexes'

2021-08-10T09:00:00-04:00

Anyone who has visited or lived in Montreal has seen an impressive variety of external staircases that decorate the homes of the Canadian city’s historic neighborhoods. Beyond the range of architectural styles that adorn the facades and interiors of this local type, the Plex is mostly defined by these acrobatic outdoor stairs, which contort themselves to link the two, three, and even four levels of separate apartments to the street. Built in the 19th and early 20th century for multiple income levels, the plexes ranged from simple to ornate, though many housed large working-class families.

“Once known for affordability, Montreal has now joined Canada’s real-estate frenzy,” writes Sandrine Rastello of Bloomberg. Today, plexes are increasingly sought after as wealthy urbanites renovate and update, and architects and developers build contemporary interpretations of the form with up to six levels.

Outdoor spiral staircase in Montreal. Image: Cobra Libre (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Zoning and craft in Montreal's 'Plexes'