© David Boyer
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Atelier Zébulon Perron, an interior design firm steadfast on forging relations between humans and spaces, is proud to disclose the welcoming ambiance of Le Boulevardier restaurant and Le Flâneur Bar Lounge, including the food and beverage portion of a major $30 million renovation of Germain Hotels’ flagship property, Le Germain Hotel, in downtown Montreal. The firm’s ensemble of work comprises approximately 8,000sf of symbiotic space, on two separate levels, consisting of a ground floor bar/lounge, a first-floor restaurant, and a charming staircase to connect the vibrant spaces.
A contemporary vision of a historic era, revealing some of the building’s original Brutalist architecture. Exposed concrete and other raw materials served as inspirational canvases for a contrasting purity of forms and lines, applied to a minimalist design concentrated on space planning, modern materials, and luminosity.
INTRIGUE THROUGH DESIGN
A core element of the planning process concentrated on designing a physical and emotional connection between the two thematically symbiotic spaces. In order to foster intrigue, Atelier Zébulon Perron repositioned the hotel’s centrally-located staircase closer to the front desk area, inviting patrons to explore beyond the bounds of the lobby. The steel structure and hardwood steps of the new staircase that rises through the ceiling and anchored from above, are framed in a transparent wall of steel rods, tactically illuminated to organize it as aesthetically satisfying as it is functional.
In approaching the design of a welcoming lobby bar/lounge, the firm concentrated on designing a space where both local frequenter and hotel guests can intermingle, work, or simply enjoy a drink. With its relaxed retro feel, encased in an unpretentious, contemporary décor, Le Flâneur has attained that goal. Its welcoming blend of conviviality and grandeur, with contrasts of raw concrete and noble materials, sets up a balanced warmth design for people to inhabit, rather than simply adore. Rich, dark woods and marble adorn Le Flâneur’s counters and floors, while strategically-placed dividers provide a contemporary framework for banquettes and chrome cube furnishings that imbue a retro feel into the comfortable surroundings.
