Montreal-based architecture firm La Firme has renovated a historic mid-19th-century building with brick walls and oak cabinets that create a sharp contrast in Montreal, Canada.

The project, named Elmire, the interior space is a remarkable transformation of a condo living space in a historic mid-19th-century building in the heart of Montreal’s trendy Plateau Mont-Royal district. 

Referencing to the building's rich history as a textile mill and a Campbell’s soup factory, La Firme transformed the apartment unit as a modern living space in response to the passions of its occupants.

The interiors are enriched with while and braun color palette that create a sharp contrast. While the firm presevers the original structure as much as possible, massive BC fir timber beams have been left exposed.

A delicate balancing act

The studio aimed to form a striking, harmonious balance between Elmire’s historical roots and its modern form. 

For this reason, the architects applied a design ethos focused on the careful preservation of the building's original architecture. 

The team maintained massive BC fir timber beams, brick walls, and structural arches in the interior to serve to delineate boundaries within the interior. 

"Collectively, the retained elements serve as a counterbalance to the studio’s infusion of more modern elements, characterized by white oak construction that serves to organize the space," said La Firme.

"Along with the white oak, stone accents complement Elmire’s relatively simple material palette."

At the heart of the design process, extruded volumes layout were introduced within the empty layout in the form of multifunctional white oak building blocks that serve to subtly frame the spaces. 

One houses the kitchen, while also creating concealment space for a laundry room, a water closet, and a coffee nook with its own stainless-steel counter and integrated sink. 

An L-shaped configuration in the loft area contains a master bedroom, an en-suite bathroom, a multifunctional gallery, a conservatory, and a meditative space. 

In addition to their role in defining the condo’s spaces, white oak cabinets also provide abundant additional storage space.

A future built on the past

"We were able to take a space steeped in history and to mold it into something that respects its past, but which also lays the groundwork for its future," explained Louis Béliveau, Lead Designer at La Firme. 

"Simultaneously, the design is informed by the personalities and lifestyles of the clients," the firm added.

Combining the clients’ passions for geology and the culinary arts, the kitchen design features a unique labradorite granite countertop with a laser-cut bent stainless-steel counter, beautifully finished with white oak and Fenix panels. 

A slightly raised, split-level living room reveals breathtaking views of nearby Mont Royal, with a pull-out guest bed cleverly concealed in a custom drawer to complement the room’s functionality.

A preserved archway marks passage through to the loft area, where the multifunctional gallery and conservatory occupy a bright and open floor plan where the clients can indulge in their passions for contemporary art and music. 

The open spaces narrow and transition through another archway leading into the master bedroom and bathroom.

Infusions of modern luxury

In the master bedroom, the studio designed cabinets with a dual purpose. In addition to traditional clothing and linen storage functions, one of the cabinets houses the clients’ private wine collection. 

In the adjacent bathroom, primarily clad in tiles, a wall adorned with five slabs of book-matched Calacatta verde marble, with veins aligned to create a subtle geometric pattern, exudes an added level of luxury. 

In alignment with La Firme’s balance of old and new, a band of glass blocks was installed as a functional retro nod to 1980s design, allowing natural light from the gallery space to permeate the room.

"Our approach extends beyond aesthetics, with a focus on practicality woven into each design decision that we make," said Mr. Béliveau. 

"For instance, the decision to use oak blocks was a response to our vision for creating a compressed entrance space that would unfold to reveal the grandeur of the interior."

Beyond traditional, La Firme’s transformation of Elmire is a thoughtful reimagination of space, history, and modernity that raises the bar in terms of architectural renovation.

"Elmire stands as a testament to our unique design philosophy of projects informed by personality," added Louis Béliveau. 

"It also distinguishes itself as a model of how modern living can be fully integrated into Montreal's rich historical fabric," Béliveau concluded. 

Montreal-based La Firme creates design-forward spaces based on the fundamental belief that environments should be as dynamic as the people who will use them.

Project facts

Official project name: Elmire

Architects/designers: La Firme

Location: Montreal

Cabinet work: Atelier 13

Natural stone: Ateliers Stoneage

Lighting: Lambert et Fils 

Completion date: 2021

All images © Ulysse Lemerise.

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