Despite major renovations carried out by its owner in the early 2000s, the layout of the Saint-Pierre remained oppressive and not very functional. Some would have been happy with it. Its owner preferred to make a clean slate and gave La Firme carte blanche to convert it into a place out of the ordinary. The result is a fascinating play of volumes and contrasts which has earned it two design awards.
Nestled in the Caverhill, a heritage building in Old Montreal dating from the 19the century, the Saint-Pierre has the cachet and character of earlier industrial buildings. From the outside, the place displays elegant arched windows, symmetrically set in a facade whose stone lace recalls the Italian neo-Renaissance style. From the inside, this charm is confirmed… and its disadvantages too!
With only one windowed wall on the front, the back of the loft is plunged into darkness. Its relatively airtight shell is accentuated by surprisingly low ceilings for a construction of the period. In the old decor, incongruous angles and the abundance of black on the walls amplified a natural propensity towards heaviness. Sometimes you have to admit that you’re on the wrong track to get back on the right foot, which Edward Brooke did: “I saw it as an opportunity to invest in my property and take it to a whole new level. »
Although he did not have a precise idea of the result, the owner had a deep conviction in the potential of his studio and a non-conformist vision for its future.
He’s a perfect customer. He knows what he wants, but trusts it. Where he could have opted for conventional solutions, he preferred innovation.
Louis Béliveau, chief designer of La Firme
Free yourself from preconceived ideas
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Discreet when its lights are closed, the sauna reveals itself once they are turned on.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
The boundary between the living area and the sauna is blurred thanks to the use of a glass wall covered with a mirror film.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
Three imposing and sculptural windows bring light into the loft.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
The brick, discreet under white paint, creates an interesting texture.
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The easy solution would have been to transform the wasted space between the two poles of the studio into storage. La Firme’s most daring idea was to make it a sauna: a rarity in a 1,600 square foot studio. Behind its smoked glass, this relaxation space is revealed when the lights are turned on. Otherwise, its glass wall acts like the one-way mirrors of interrogation rooms and allows, from the inside, to see without being seen. In the dark, the sauna remains perceptible, but discreet, thus fueling a certain mystery.
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
The marble of the island injects a good dose of character into the kitchen decor.
From the living area, the reflective wall bounces light and contributes to the impression of grandeur and brightness of the place. With 20 feet of counter space, the kitchen, previously not very functional and hardly inviting, has become a culinary laboratory. In the center, its marble island spontaneously attracts the eye with its assertive streaks which give all its character to the space. This choice once again reveals a penchant for an explosive and intrepid aesthetic.
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
The office space opens onto the bedroom via a sliding door.
The living room, immersed in a bath of light, occupies the front of the decor. Same thing for the master bedroom, separated from the living area by the office space. Linear, it extends through a wall of tinted glass, from the bathroom, which is open, to a shower room which is closed. At the end of the passage, an interesting play of mirrors reflects the window and gives the impression that the space continues to infinity. Its storage wall crosses the room from one end to the other and acts as a common thread between the bright facade and the darkness.
When opposites complement each other
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
In all the living rooms, the wood of the floor has been whitened to bring out the furniture and accentuate the contrast with the functional areas which are plunged into shadow. At the end of the bathroom hallway, a mirror reflects the room’s decor and gives the impression that the room is illuminated from either side by a window.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
The space is warmed by the use of wood on the ceiling and for the custom-made furniture.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
A wall of storage stretches from the bedroom to the bathroom.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
Black ceramic was used on the floor and on the walls in all shaded areas. Here, the closed shower room of the bathroom adjoining the master bedroom.
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Exploiting the natural light coming from the three large windows was the cornerstone around which the layout was structured. The absence of a load-bearing wall greatly facilitated the task of achieving this objective, and made it possible to maximize the surface area of the living area.
The light gradually fades towards the other end of the apartment, where the space is segmented and without openings to the outside. We grouped together the vestibule, a mechanical room, a laundry room, a bathroom adjoining the entrance, an extra bedroom and a bathroom which also serves the sauna.
Rather than trying to compensate for the absence of light, we preferred to play with contrast: on one side, we have light and whiteness; on the other, darkness which is accentuated by the use of black ceramic on the floor. We accept the fact that it is dark.
Louis Béliveau, chief designer of La Firme
However, the space is awakened in a different way with reflective surfaces.
PHOTP PROVIDED BY THE FIRM
The plan designed by La Firme
The clothing of the Saint-Pierre remains minimalist in the choice of materials: wood, glass, brick and black ceramic punctuate the decor. The abundance of wood warms up a black and white aesthetic that might otherwise seem harsh. As for the brick wall, discreet under a coat of paint, it is a backdrop rich in textures which highlights the beauty of the arches.
In this ensemble, the old and the new blend melodiously and create a cozy environment equipped with a sauna, two bathrooms and two powder rooms! After neglecting his loft for years, the owner readjusts his plans. “I hadn’t planned to move back there, but the results are so exciting that I’m in the process of doing so! » With this work, the Saint-Pierre loft finally seems to be on its X.