Atelier BOOM-TOWN took advantage of the redevelopment of this loft located in an industrial building near the Atwater Market in Montreal, Quebec, to make the second transformation of this former factory, converted into a dwelling project in the 1980s. The new development decompartmentalizes the space to better appreciate the original volume with its two large masonry walls, steel structure, and high ceilings. The original materials (bricks, lumber, steel) compliment the new finishes in an “industrial” way: concrete countertop, concrete panel lining, raw steel, etc. The new lines are sober and refined so that the old reveals the new and all the new elements are highlighted by the layout. This place steeped in history has undergone many metamorphoses over the years by its change of use and its change of spatial organization. This last transformation was an opportunity to express the spirit of the original space while being totally adapted to its new use and its time.
When starting the renovation project, the clients did not have children yet. The end of the work of the first phase was to coincide with the arrival of their first daughter. Several months later, once the second phase had been completed, they ended up being three girls! The need to rethink the space could not have been more relevant.
In the new kitchen, the huge island in the center becomes the heart of living areas. Poured concrete and quartz countertops determine the meal preparation and wine tasting areas. The walnut cabinets are overhung by a concrete panel wall.
To access the mezzanine, the two flights of stairs have been separated by a wall that becomes the multimedia surface of the living room where the electronic equipment is discreetly installed and sometimes hidden. This reconfiguration of the staircase redefines the open living area.
The mezzanine becomes the parent’s area with a primary bedroom and relaxation area with a fireplace and TV. A skylight illuminates the space. Glass walls in clear and satin glass separates the mezzanine from the hubbub of the living room while allowing to maintain visual contact and natural lighting. You have to literally pass through a steel trust to access the new primary bathroom which is laid out under the eaves. On the floor below, each children’s rooms benefit from new bathrooms.
Data Sheet
Completion Year: 2018
Surface: 170 m2 [1,830 sq.ft.]
Location: Petite-Bourgogne (Sud-Ouest borough), Montréal (QC) CANADA
Architect: atelier BOOM-TOWN
Interior Design: atelier BOOM-TOWN
General contractor: DORIAN DANILA
Cabinets: DAVID ROUSSEL
Tiles: RAMACIERI SOLIGO / CERAGRES / LA TUILERIE / CIOT
Plumbing: RAMACIERI SOLIGO / THALASSA / BATIMAT
Concrete countertop: ATELIER B
Concrete sink: BALUX
Stair: ATELIER DU BOIS DAVID GILBERT
Photographer: STEVE MONTPETIT
Press Distribution: V2com
About atelier BOOM-TOWN
Historically, the Boomtown house is associated with the ‘mushroom’ towns created near industrial complexes and mines in the years 1890–1920. It is easily recognized by its simple facade and square shape. Its roof is flat or nearly flat, an innovation for the time. The popularity of the Boomtown house was mainly due to increased space and low construction costs.
A century later, l’atelier Boomtown proposes a rereading of human-scale buildings architecture based on the original principles of the Boomtown house: Simplicity and efficiency. Working with space, light, and matter, l’atelier Boomtown designs contemporary houses, adapted to modern living.
