Interior designer Jean de Lessard has designed the fish market store Némeau by drawing inspiration from Jules Vernes’ novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Chapter XV – A walk on the bottom of the sea. Located in Lévis, on the south shore of Québec City, the fish market offers customers the ability to discover fish products differently, by providing them with a unique ‘promenade-shopping’.
Image © Francois Laliberté
I approached this project from the ‘vintage’ viewpoint of Jules Verne, but through a time line between today and tomorrow. It’s subtle, a little crazy, but fun!
Image © Francois Laliberté
The design concept focuses on adding value of products through exploration by creating a journey of the senses around custom made displays. These stylized cooling systems, built out of Corian® and topped with asymmetric glass cases were custom designed in the way of jewelry boxes. They required months of hard work, bringing together a team of specialists of Corian®, lobster tank, refrigeration, IT management and talented glassmakers.
Image © Francois Laliberté
It facilitates interactions between staff and customers and adds a distinctive touch to the collective experience; shopping becomes enjoyable even in such a small space.
– Jean de Lessard
Image © Francois Laliberté
The magical sense of an underwater world dominates the space. The sculptural glass ceiling, with a prismatic shape and tones is illustrating its magic, becoming a form representation of the refraction of natural light on the water and denser water as Nemo and his accomplices may have seen.
Image © Francois Laliberté
The key aspect of this element is the extraordinary bookcase aboard the Nautilus that Jean de Lessard has conceptualized and successfully integrated in his design. In one fluid motion, the striking honeycomb ceiling becomes a sweeping tsunami of shelves. This is a simple, practical and ingenious way to maximize the store area surface.
Image © Francois Laliberté
No detail was left to chance. The intricate design of the floor ties into the nautical theme perfectly. “The white and gray ceramic tiling is reminiscent of the slats of hardwood of a boat’s deck,” says de Lessard.
Image © Francois Laliberté
In this dynamic and vibrant space, the combination of horizontal and vertical lines and transparency brings to mind the emptiness and fullness within the depths of the sea. Thus, the oblong-shape ethereal lighting, like some abstract vegetation suspended in space, are balancing the denser shapes on the floor.
Image © Francois Laliberté
Image © Francois Laliberté
Image © Jean de Lessard, Designers Créatifs
Image © Jean de Lessard, Designers Créatifs
Image © Jean de Lessard, Designers Créatifs
Facts:
Client: Némeau
Branding Strategy: Carole Vézina
Marketing: Tonik stratégie
Creative direction: Lebeau&Lebon
Design: Jean de Lessard, designers créatifs
Contractor: Les Entreprises FBL
Corian® Supplier: Summum Granit
Refrigeration manufacturer: Dauphinais inc.
Computer system: RH Solutions Informatiques
Lobster tank: Vivier des Îles
Glass and bookcase: Verrerie Coquelicot
Material: ceramic tile, metal, Corian® and glass
Store surface: 430 square feet
Kitchen surface: 840 square feet
Photography: Francois Laliberté, Imagicom.
*All images and information courtesy of v2com.
