Archinect - News 2024-12-22T04:19:15-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150276941/zoning-and-craft-in-montreal-s-plexes Zoning and craft in Montreal's 'Plexes' Dante Furioso 2021-08-10T09:00:00-04:00 >2024-10-25T04:07:38-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/ae/ae492c6885d1f409bcb949f6a8f7a0e0.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Anyone who has visited or lived in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/8869/montreal" target="_blank">Montreal</a> has seen an <a href="https://lrdgcampus.com/blog/outdoor-staircases-a-photo-history-of-a-montreal-icon" target="_blank">impressive variety of external staircases</a> that decorate the homes of the Canadian city&rsquo;s historic neighborhoods. Beyond the range of architectural styles that adorn the facades and interiors of this local type, <em>the Plex</em> 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.</p> <p>&ldquo;Once known for affordability, Montreal has now joined <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/4065/canada" target="_blank">Canada</a>&rsquo;s real-estate frenzy,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-08-04/looking-to-rent-in-montreal-get-to-know-the-plex" target="_blank">writes Sandrine Rastello of <em>Bloomberg</em>.</a>&nbsp;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.&nbsp;<br></p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/0b/0b330ee743befb2ff0e3af99fe3483e9.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/0b/0b330ee743befb2ff0e3af99fe3483e9.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Outdoor spiral staircase in Montreal. Image: Cobra Libre (CC BY-SA 2.0)</figcaption></figure><p>Similar to New Engl...</p>