Can you imagine bold red columns interrupting a monochrome interior? That’s exactly what’s happening inside the boutique of Cahier d’ Exercices in the Montreal warehouse that got transformed by Canadian firm Saucier + Perrotte Architectes.The architects inserted the store into a former industrial building, used in the nineteenth century for producing tissues, leather and fur, and they added black paint to a decaying wall of brick and stone. Cahier d’Exercices is located at the entrance level of the historic Ross warehouse-store. The stone façade, its cast iron columns, and an expansive brick wall that runs the length of the store reminds of the 19th Century building’s industrial past.
“The colour changes gradually from a reflective, latex-like black to a pure diaphanous white, drawing visitors toward a reflective, opalescent mirror that extends the perspective of the space”, explain architects Saucier + Perrotte. “This metallic floor at the entry invites visitors to discover the exclusive clothing within and relax in the warmth and comfort of the fireplace“.
Founded in 1988 by Gilles Saucier and André Perrotte, Saucier + Perrotte architectes is a multidisciplinary practice internationally renowned for its institutional, cultural, and residential projects. The firm represented Canada at the Architecture Biennale of Venice in 2004, and has been honoured with numerous awards, including 7 Governor General’s Medals and Awards in Architecture and two International Architecture Awards. Located in the heart of Montreal’s ‘Little Italy,’ Saucier + Perrotte architectes occupies a 60-year-old industrial building converted by the firm. The partners are proud to be part of the renewal of this area of the city.
Architects Saucier + Perrotte Architectes for Cahier d’Exercices
Photos shot by Marc Cramer, Gilles Saucier
