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Design agency Wedge drew on the aesthetic of Danish brand Frama when creating Wedge House, its office in Montreal, which features a dusty-pastel colour palette and custom-made furniture. More
Montreal architect Diandra Maselli has overhauled a century-old house in the city for herself and her family, modernising the residence while retaining some historic character.
The founder of Diandra Maselli Architect acquired the property a week before the Covid-19 pandemic caused global lockdowns, and faced an uphill battle during the renovation of the historic structure.
The 100-year-old home was fully modernised inside, including a new kitchen”The house had its fair share of obstacles – including structural decay, carpenter ants, mice, water infiltration, foundation holes, and asbestos abatement,” said Maselli.
“However, amidst these challenges, there was a silver lining – the extensive demolition and incorporation of a steel structure paved the way for a tailor-made renovation, envisioned to meet modern needs and newly unfolding realities.”
Architect Diandra Maselli played with boundaries and thresholds throughout the homeWith the structural work on the 3,512-square-foot (326 square metres) building complete, the architect was able to tailor the interiors to her family’s needs.
For example, they needed two home offices – one on each floor – that could also transition into family areas during evenings and weekends.
A variety of custom doors were added, including a glass and steel design between the living area and home officeThe old building’s compartmentalised layout was restrictive, so Maselli explored playing with the public and private boundaries.
She did this by introducing a variety of custom doors, using different designs and materials so that “each threshold assumes a distinctive purpose”.
Although contemporary furniture was inserted, details like the fireplace mantles and bay windows were restoredA glass and steel door separates the ground-floor home office from the kitchen and living area, allowing light and views to pass between the two spaces.
To conceal the laundry room from the kitchen, a nine-foot-tall (2.7 metres), flush-mounted door was installed, while a large sliding partition was added to open the kitchen to an outdoor patio.
“By bestowing unique characteristics upon these transitions, the house’s dynamics shift responsively,” Maselli said.
Built-in furniture made from white oak is found throughout the houseUniting the majority of the spaces is the use of white oak for millwork, built-in furniture and other details, providing visual consistency throughout the home.
The most expansive application of the material is in the kitchen, forming a front for the cabinetry, a central island and a coffee station opposite.
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White oak also wraps walls and closets in the primary bedroom, where it is detailed with rounded corners and almost invisible door pulls.
A half-height partition divides the sleeping and dressing areas, providing a view through mirrored double swing doors to the second-floor office.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom separated from a dressing area by a half-height partitionThe renovation also provided the opportunity to modernise the home’s heating, ventilation and electrical systems.
This included repurposing the original cast-iron radiators to support a dual-energy heating system.
White oak millwork is used for the closets and features rounded cornersAll of the window shades, lighting and under-floor heating are automated to sync with the family’s daily routines.
“The essence of the project is to blend the legacy of a century-old house with the needs of today, ensuring that its historic charm is retained while seamlessly integrating modern functionalities that respond to our new unfolding realities,” said the architect.
The red-brick home in Montreal also received a full exterior restorationMaselli founded her eponymous studio in 2020 and has since also completed a single-family house in Lasalle, Quebec.
Other recently renovated Montreal homes include a mid-century dwelling overhauled by Atelier Chardonnat and Salem Architecture, and a triplex residence reimagined by Atelier L’Abri.
The photography is by Maxime Brouillet.
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Canadian studio Atelier Échelle has overhauled an orthodontic clinic in Montreal to create a “warm and inviting, residential atmosphere” with medical equipment positioned among light wood features.
Clinique Monkland occupies the parlour level of a century-old building in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood.
The reception area at Clinique Monkland is designed to resemble a living roomThe 90-square-metre space was reimagined by local firm Atelier Échelle to make it feel less sterile and more homely.
“[The project] reimagines the typical orthodontic clinic experience as a warm and inviting domestic environment,” said the studio.
A compact walnut desk features a ridged front and curved cornersIn the reception area, a compact walnut desk with a ridged front and rounded corners is positioned in front of a white-painted brick fireplace.
Millwork surrounds the brick, covering the full wall with storage and display space for styling books and artwork.
Green velvet benches are provided for waiting patientsOn either side of the room are green velvet benches – one straight, and another that angles to fit within a large bay window – for waiting patients.
“The reception was conceived as a living room by preserving an existing brick fireplace and adding long, custom velvet benches along the side walls,” said Atelier Échelle.
Fluted glass panels provide privacy for the consultation roomsFluted glass provides privacy for the adjacent consultation room, which is accessed through a doorway that connects to the remaining spaces.
“A corridor echoes the original layout of the building, distributing the technical apparatus on one side and consultation rooms on the other,” the studio said.
Pale mint green cabinets and leather chairs add to the contemporary aestheticThe consultation rooms are warmed using white oak flooring and trim, as well as a coffered ceiling that hides electromechanical and dental equipment above.
“This bespoke design also offers something for the reclined patients to observe as they receive dental care,” said Atelier Échelle.
Appareil Architecture designs Montreal dental clinic to feel like “someone’s home”
Cabinets are coloured pale mint green and the patient chairs are upholstered in brown leather, adding to the contemporary feel throughout the clinic.
“The nuanced minimalism of the place blends period accents with comforting wood tones and domestic touches, transforming the orthodontic clinic experience through heightened design details,” Atelier Échelle said.
A coffered ceiling hides mechanical and dental equipment aboveSeveral designers have rethought the experience of visiting a dental clinic by creating interiors more akin to residential or hospitality spaces.
Also in Montreal, Appareil Architecture took a similar approach at the Maxillo Tandem clinic to help patients and employees feel relaxed, while Studio Author modelled Toronto’s Paste Dental on a hotel lounge.
The bespoke ceiling provides a view for reclined patients during consultationsClinique Monkland is longlisted in the health and well-being interior category of Dezeen Awards 2024, along with 15 other projects around the world.
These include a massage parlour in Shanghai, a dermatology clinic in Tokyo, and a spa and hammam in Dubai.
The photography is by Maxime Brouillet.
Project credits:
Architect: Table ArchitectureInterior designer: Atelier ÉchelleMillwork and furniture: Mesure, Arrebeuri, Foutu Tissu
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Montreal-based Ivy Studio has chosen a variety of dramatic marble to outfit a Middle Eastern restaurant, which features a colour palette influenced by “the earthy tones of the Syrian deserts”.
In Montreal’s Old Port neighbourhood, the 1,500-square-foot (140-square metre) Hayat restaurant is designed to reflect the cuisine served by chef Joseph Awad.
The marble host stand at Hayat sets the tone for the restaurant’s Middle Eastern-influenced colour palette”This Middle Eastern restaurant’s colour palette was inspired by the earthy tones of the Syrian deserts and their surrounding greenery,” said Ivy Studio.
Upon entering is a screen of black hammered-glass panels, which also conceals the kitchen in the far corner.
In the main dining space, banquette seating runs along two walls below a fabric ceiling installationIn the main dining room, built-in benches form an L along two walls, while a pair of U-shaped booths sit against another that arches over them.
The seat backs are upholstered in mauve velvet and the cushions are wrapped in contrasting deep green leather.
Private booths are positioned below an arched ceiling and behind a partition of black hammered glassCloser to the kitchen is another small, semi-circular booth built into the walnut millwork.
Here the cushioned seats are covered in ruby-toned velvet, and a metallic light fixture is suspended above.
The bar is made from a dramatic marble variety with streaks of teal, pistachio and cream coloursIvy Studio selected a wide variety of striking, richly veined marbles, “each contributing their own touch of colour into the space” according to the team.
The bar is made from a dramatic stone with teal, cream and pistachio striations, while the host stand and dining table tops in the main area are purple and white.
A red-hued semicircular booth is tucked into the walnut millwork close to the kitchenThe building’s exposed brickwork is painted cream to match the other walls, while the original historic stone between the large windows is left exposed.
“The ancient stone walls at the front and rear facades were left intact to showcase the building’s history,” Ivy Studio said.
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Curved layers across the ceiling, which hide indirect lighting, are designed to evoke the smooth landscapes of the Middle East.
A fabric installation suspended above the dining tables curves around more strips of lighting, diffusing the light to create a warm glow.
The bar is made from a dramatic marble variety with streaks of teal, pistachio and cream coloursWalnut, stone and cream walls are also found in the bathrooms, which echo the colour and material scheme throughout the restaurant.
“The overall intention of the palette was to bring together the worlds of Middle Eastern nature and Old Montreal construction,” the studio said.
The same material palette continues in the moody bathroomsIvy Studio has completed several interiors across Montreal that include colourful marble.
These include the Italian restaurant Piatti where the dark green stone contrasts the building’s rough walls and co-working office Spatial where purple surfaces pop against mint green millwork.
The photography is by Alex Lesage.
Project credits:
Architecture and design: Ivy StudioConstruction: Groupe Manovra
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Canadian studio Ménard Dworkind has created an intimate French restaurant in the Villeray neighborhood of Montreal complete with warm interiors and a custom white oak wine cellar.
Known as Casavant, the 850-square foot (80-square metre) brasserie-style restaurant was completed in September 2023 on the ground floor of a 1920’s residential building, replacing a sandwich shop.
Ménard Dworkind has created a restaurant in a 1920s Montreal buildingMénard Dworkind (MRDK) designed the small restaurant – which seats 45 patrons – to bring diners together in a space that combines art deco influences with Montreal’s vibrant culinary scene. It was designed to “blend timeless elegance with a contemporary twist”.
Located on the corner of the block, the guests enter the rectangular interior through a white brick facade. Natural light comes in from multiple directions through large, black-framed storefront windows.
Large windows let in plenty of lightThe floor is speckled with 3D-patterned matte tiles by Daltile arranged in a custom mosaic, while beige tile climbs up the walls.
Burnt orange corduroy banquette seating wraps around the two outside walls with two linear high-top tables floating freely in the space. The vintage French bistro chairs were acquired from another restaurateur.
Vintage furniture was usedThe party wall serves as the focal point with the bar and custom white oak wine cellar and displays a selection of natural wines in raw wood cabinetry with rounded corner glass-front doors.
“The wine cellar has been the focal point as soon as we started discussions with the clients,” said partner Guillaume Ménard. “It was important to be able to see it from everywhere you sit or stand.
“Since it’s wall mounted, it attracts the eye pretty quickly with action going on behind the bar as well as the light coming out of it,” he said.
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The compact kitchen – with an open pass-through window into the dining space that shows off the lively action of cooking – and the dark blue restroom corridor are tucked at the back of the restaurant.
“The ceiling boasts a unique, funky patterned alcove made from colorful acoustic panels, contributing to the restaurant’s eclectic and inviting character while helping with the acoustical comfort,” the team told Dezeen, referencing the tray-like inset with a blush, maroon and peach abstract graphic.
It has a ceiling clad with acoustic panels”We really like the addition of the patterned acoustical panels on the ceiling,” Ménard noted.
“It adds depth, comfort and colors to the space. It also acts as a lantern since it is lightened up by a dissimulated LED strip.”
A custom wine cabinet was installedIn addition to the locally crafted and sourced materials, artistic details occur throughout the space like a painting from local artist Nicolas Grenier and a vintage Medusa pendant light by Carlo Nason, which displays the restaurant’s charm through the glazing to passers-by.
Two of Ménard Dworkind’s previous restaurant interiors in Montreal include the Italian 1960’s-inspired design for Tiramisu with a chrome service counter and large leafy plants and the retro-themed design for Caffettiera Caffé Bar with a checkerboard floor and teal accents.
The photography is by David Dworkind.
Project credits:
Team: Guillaume Menard, Fabrice DoutriauxContractor: Avodah ConstructionCeramic floor and wall tile: DaltileLighting: humanhomeStools: UlineUpholstery: Bisson BruneelAcoustic panels: Akustus
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The minimalist interior of this Montreal oral surgery clinic by local studio Appareil Architecture “adopts a residential aesthetic” to help patients and employees feel relaxed.
The Maxillo Tandem clinic in the city’s Technopôle Angus neighbourhood provides maxillofacial surgery, which deals with diseases, injuries and defects of the mouth, teeth and jaws.
Appareil Architecture designed the dental clinic to feel more like a home than a medical facilityThe clinic’s founder, surgeon Anne-Frédérique Chouinard, gave Appareil Architecture a “carte blanche” to design the space differently to typical medical facilities.
“The clinic adopts a residential aesthetic with durable materials to create an inviting, refined space that centers on well-being,” said the studio.
Built-in seating wraps around the perimeter of the reception areaUpon entering, patients are met by a reception desk clad in vertically laid, off-white ceramic tiles that also cover the wall behind.
“Their vertical positioning adds texture and rhythm to the wall, bringing the space to life, while remaining functional and easy to maintain,” Appareil Architecture said.
Pale upholstery, linen curtains and beige walls all add to the serene atmosphereThe waiting area to the left is furnished with built-in seats that form a U shape around the perimeter and under a large window, while a double-sided island in the central adds additional seating.
Polished concrete flooring and beige walls complement the pale upholstery and linen curtains, together creating a serene atmosphere.
Off-white tiles clad the reception counter and the wall behind, adding texture and rhythm”All lend a reassuring character to the space,” said the architects. “In addition to a soft, peaceful colour palette, these materials contribute to the soothing, comforting ambiance.”
On either side of the symmetrical reception counter, oak-framed doors with fritted glass panes both lead through to the treatment area.
Oak-framed doors with fritted glass panes lead from reception to the treatment areasA central block of rooms for staff – also wrapped in the off-white tiles – runs back from the reception area, dividing the clinic into two sides.
“This central structure naturally delineates the space, creating an efficient traffic flow that allows people to move easily in both directions,” the studio said.
A U-shaped corridor connects the dentists’ offices, operating rooms and staff areasThe corridors continue the white and wood material palette and provide access to the dentists’ offices on the left side and operating rooms along the right.
All of these rooms are also sparsely furnished and have a clean aesthetic, and are purposefully placed away from the reception area for patient privacy.
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At the back of the clinic is a space with a communal kitchen for employees to take breaks, which is oriented to enjoy afternoon light.
“In the morning, the dentist’s offices, positioned on the window side, are flooded with natural light,” said Appareil Architecture.
A minimalist approach was also taken in the consultation rooms”In the afternoon, this light pours into the staff areas and illuminates the central structure,” the team added.
A wood-panelled wall topped with clerestory windows incorporates the staff kitchen facilities and storage, while a concrete island with rounded ends incorporates a cylindrical structural column.
A communal kitchen for staff is located behind a wood-panelled wall at the back of the clinicSince Maxillo Tandem is part of an ecological real-estate project, the architects had to comply with strict energy efficiency targets, on top of meeting the medical operating standards.
Overall, the clinic has been well-received by both patients and staff, according to Chouinard. “The customer feedback is very positive,” she said. “They feel like they’re in someone’s home, rather than a clinic. That was my intention.”
A kitchen island with rounded ends incorporates a structural concrete columnAppareil Architecture has applied its minimalist style to many residential projects in and around Montreal, including an updated 1960s home, a stark dining extension to a city residence and a black metal cabin hidden in the forest.
The studio has also designed a handful of more colourful interiors for hospitality spaces, such as a cafe and artist workshop in the city, and a restaurant inside a former factory.
The photography is by Félix Michaud.
Project credits:
Client: Anne-Frédérique ChouinardContractor: Hub ConstructionWoodworking: Blitz DesignReception counter lighting: Lambert & FilsKitchen island: Béton Johnson
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The offices that Montreal’s Ivy Studio has designed for digital advertising agency Cardigan include a mesh-wrapped mezzanine and a “futuristic” basement within a former bank building.
For Cardigan’s expanding team, Ivy Studio has renovated a stone building that was built as a bank in 1907, in the Rosemont area of Montreal.
Ivy Studio inserted a steel mesh mezzanine inside the historic bank building to provide additional spaceThe structure has had many uses, including most recently a religious establishment, and boasts plenty of historic architectural details.
While the upper floor is a residential condo, Cardigan occupies 1,250 square feet (116 square metres) across the ground and basement levels – spaces with very different ceiling heights and light conditions.
The mesh was painted white to accentuate the bright and airy feel in the office space”One of the main challenges of working with the building was the contrasting ceiling heights between each floor,” said Ivy Studio. “This made the spacial blocking very important at the start of the project.”
To benefit from the 16.5 foot (5 metres) clearance and abundance of natural light, all the workstations are positioned on the ground level.
Under the mezzanine sit multiple phone booths and meeting roomsHowever, the floor plate was not sufficient to accommodate all 25 employees as well as meeting rooms, so the studio took advantage of the ceiling height and added a mezzanine.
This addition was placed in a corner to avoid blocking the arched windows, and was painted entirely white to accentuate the bright and airy atmosphere of the space.
During the renovation, the building’s large arched windows were fully uncovered to let in more lightThe structure is made from perforated steel mesh, allowing light to enter the phone booths and meeting rooms tucked underneath, and a gap was left between the mesh and the glass partitions behind to make space for planters.
Additional workstations are located on top of the mezzanine, which is curved at its corner. “The newly-built mezzanine structure interprets the curves of the existing space without competing with them,” Ivy Studio said.
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To let even more light in, the boarded window arches were reopened to their original form, while the parquet flooring was replaced with natural oak to retain the warmth.
Meanwhile, in the basement, low ceiling heights and a lack of windows called for an entirely contrasting strategy.
“It is a different universe of its own,” said Ivy Studio, which took a “futuristic, in your face” approach to the sub-grade space.
In the windowless basement, a contrasting “futuristic” aesthetic was chosenThis level accommodates the bathrooms, kitchen, lounge and storage, and features a mix of plastered ceilings, ceramic walls and epoxy floors.
In the kitchen, all of the surfaces are coloured baby blue, while the adjacent bathroom block is completely grey.
The spaces are colour-blocked to heighten their visual impactAcross the kitchen island, a circular mirror faces an opening that’s exactly the same shape and leads into a room painted in orange.
“The spaces are all monochromatic, to increase the visual impact of their intense colors but also help camouflage the imperfections of the existing building,” said Ivy Studio.
Baby blue and stainless steel cover the kitchenThe office’s levels are linked by two staircases: an older one made from wood and a newer minimal design that emerges from under an arched portico.
Both are painted navy blue and are intended to reflect Cardigan’s contradicting “hard-working yet playful values”.
The adjacent bathroom is executed entirely in greyIvy Studio’s portfolio of projects in its home city spans from workspaces and restaurants, to a spinning studio and a dry cleaners.
Recently completed interiors by the firm include a creative hub populated with pink and purple elements, and a renovated eatery that was damaged in a fire.
The photography is by Alex Lesage.
Project credits:
Design and architecture: Ivy StudioConstruction: Group Manovra
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Rounded walls and archways create a flow through this Montreal boutique, designed by local studio MRDK for Canadian sportswear brand Ciele Athletics.
The first boutique for Ciele, which sells technical headwear and apparel for running, opened in April 2023 on Notre-Dame Street in Montreal – the brand’s hometown.
Black and white mosaic tiles form a pattern based on Ciele’s apparel at the entrance to the storeThe 3,000-square-foot (279-square-metre) flagship store was designed by MRDK to be as much a boutique as a community space for runners to meet and socialise.
Along the narrow entryway, flooring comprises black and white mosaic tiles that form a graphic pattern based on select items of the brand’s apparel.
Visitors are lead past a quartet of mannequins to a community lounge areaAscending four steps or a ramp leads visitors past a large white-tiled planter, then a display of mannequins lined up in front of a brick wall.
A lounge area at the end is designated for gathering and conversation, offering “anyone with an interest in movement and connection a chance to experience running and the many facets of its dynamic community through regular meet-ups and events”, said MRDK.
Access to the main retail space is via an archway that punctures a dark green partitionAccess to the main retail space is through an archway with rounded corners that punctures a deep, dark green partition.
“An arched wall gracefully separates the more public community area from the rest of the store, creating a sense of intrigue and inviting exploration,” MRDK said.
The green hue continues behind the fluted white service counterOther similar openings in this spatial divider are used to display clothing on single or double-stacked rails.
The same forest green shade continues on the wall behind the service counter, which is fronted by a white fluted panel and includes a small glass vitrine set into its top.
Lime plaster covers the angled walls, which feature bull-nose edges that soften their appearanceHerringbone white oak parquet floors are laid wall to wall, running beneath a low central island that is designed to be broken apart and moved around the store depending on merchandising needs.
A textured lime plaster finish was applied to the walls, wrapping around the bull-nosed corners that soften the angles created by the offset displays.
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“The play of light and shadows on these textured surfaces creates a sense of dynamism, accentuating the uniqueness of the space,” said MRDK.
In one corner, a 12-foot-tall (3.7-metre) shelving system presents Ciele’s range of hats on cork mannequin heads.
A tall shelving system displays Ciele’s hat collectionFitting rooms at the back of the store are kept minimal, with green velvet curtain draped behind the arched openings to the cubicles.
“The thoughtful combination of materials, textures, and colours creates an atmosphere that seamlessly blends modernity with a touch of timeless elegance,” said MRDK.
The fitting rooms are kept minimalist and feature green velvet curtainsFormerly known as Ménard Dworkind, the studio was founded by Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind, and has completed a variety of retail spaces in Montreal and beyond.
Most recently, these have included a store for plastic-free beauty brand Attitude.
The photography is by David Dworkind and Alex Lesage.
Project credits:
Team: David Dworkind, Benjamin Lavoie LarocheContractor: Groupe ManovraCeramic floor tile: DaltileLighting: SistemaluxLime plaster: VenosaWood profiles: Brenlo
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Blocks of granite among planted beds are used to display plastic-free beauty products at this Montreal store, designed by local architecture firm MRDK.
MRDK, also known as Ménard Dworkind, designed the interiors of the Attitude boutique to reflect the sustainable focus of the cosmetics for sale.
Planted beds are surrounded by a raised ceramic floor at the Attitude store”From the moment you step inside, the design of the space reflects their commitment to sustainability and a connection to nature,” said the studio.
Located on Saint Denis Street in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood, the 1,000-square-foot (93-square-metre) shop is laid out to evoke a “journey through nature” according to MRDK.
A large granite block at the centre has two sinks carved into its topPlanted beds in the store window and around the space overspill with greenery, and a raised ceramic floor creates the impression of traversing a boardwalk between them.
“This subtle elevation change immediately transports you into a new space, a forest floor full of life and colour,” MRDK said.
The brand’s plastic-free beauty products are display on oak shelves that emerge from the greeneryChunks of granite are used as pedestals for displaying products in the window, while a much larger block in the centre has a pair of sinks carved into its flat top.
“The boulder-like shape and texture of the island suggest a natural element, as if it has been carved by the forces of nature over time,” said MRDK.
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“This centerpiece perfectly complements the natural theme of the space, giving customers the sense of being in a nature surrounded by rock formations.”
The majority of Attitude’s products are presented on white oak shelves that emerge from the plant beds on both sides of the store.
The raised floor is designed to create a boardwalk between the planted bedsSuspended on white poles and backed by fritted glass, these shelves match the rectangular cashier’s desk at the back, into which the brand’s name is hewn.
There’s also a refill station that customers can use to replenish the aluminium bottles, further promoting sustainability.
Smaller blocks of granite are used as plinths to showcase the products in the storefrontMRDK was founded by partners Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind in 2010, and has completed a wide variety of projects in and around Montreal.
These include a 1970s-themes pizza restaurant, a colossal Chinese brasserie and a wine bar that takes cues from bottle labels, as well as a renovated 1980s home and a cedar-clad hideaway.
The photography is by David Dworkind.
Project credits:
Architecture: MRDKTeam: David Dworkind, Benjamin Lavoie LarocheContractor: Groupe STLC
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