Rue de la Gauchetière
Winner of an AZ Award

Studio Future Simple’s project wins in the residential category at the AZ Awards

Previously published in WestmountMag.ca

Located near the Old Port of Montreal, the Rue de la Gauchetière project consists of the complete renovation of an apartment in a century-old heritage building in the Old Port of Montreal. Studio Future Simple modernized the loft with an elegant and unexpected architectural intervention that promotes flexibility and unity in family life while celebrating the unique industrial character of the space.

The ‘box-within-a-box’ concept allows the creation of tailored spaces that balance individual privacy and the collective.

The ‘box-within-a-box’ concept allows the creation of tailored spaces that balance individual privacy and the collective. The design harnesses the benefits of natural and tactile materials to enhance the well-being of the residents. The result is a timeless design that embraces the namesake of the century-old building in which it sits.

With its open floor plan, convertible rooms and natural palette, the de la Gauchetière Street loft offers a new vision of urban living for a young family. Its innovative architectural elements and natural materials create beautiful and practical spaces for family life.

The challenge is how to integrate nature into a decisively urban context. How do you rethink the residential space for a young family in a loft? And how do you retain the industrial character and open spirit of the building that houses it?

The solution is revealed in the ‘box within a box’ concept: two windowed boxes, reserved for bedrooms, are carefully integrated into the space. They are programmed as bedrooms used as spatial tools to organize the residential functions: kitchen, living room, dining room, office, and yoga corner that take shape at their periphery.

Part furniture object, part architecture, these refined structures are designed as a kit of parts and constructed of walnut-veneered Russian plywood to warm the raw environment.

The rooms are also equipped with a series of automated blinds, both transparent and opaque, which transform them from open spaces into semi- or fully private rooms. In the evening, when the blinds are drawn and the lights are on, both rooms appear as floating lanterns in an open space, creating a surreal atmosphere that defies the traditional image of the house while providing the necessary comforts.

‘With its open floor plan, convertible rooms and natural palette, the de la Gauchetière Street loft offers a new vision of urban living for a young family.’

The apartment is punctuated with custom elements and minimalist furniture designed by the studio: a concrete sink, bookcase, desk, and convertible bed frame, among others. Inspired by the original character of the building, a palette of raw materials for the interior (wood, stone, brick, and concrete) reinforces the connection to nature.

Walnut plywood recalls the earth tones of the brick walls, warm gray flooring and fabrics echo the concrete, while large areas of glass and mirrors emphasize the lightness of the space and reflect sunlight even into the darkest corners of the loft. The abundant addition of greenery-including vines and a 10-foot tree adds a natural, calming dimension despite the loft’s urban setting.

Future Simple Studio

Studio Future Simple is an architecture firm founded in Montreal by architect Christine Djerrahian in 2018. The Studio creates timeless projects through a design process dedicated to simplicity. The team is composed of architects, designers, strategists and technologists motivated by the ambition to create instinctive and human experiences at various scales.

Before founding Studio Future Simple, Christine worked in Montreal and New York for 12 years where she completed projects for various international clients including Louis Vuitton, Equinox, Doğuş, NASA, and Shvo. She is registered with the Quebec Order of Architects and holds Master of Architecture degrees from McGill University and Columbia University.

Facts Sheet

Rue de la Gauchetière
Area: 1850 sq. ft.
Architects: Studio Future Simple
Architectural team: Christine Djerrahian
Contruction: Construction Père en Fils

Images: Felix Michaud

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