Once a textile factory in Montreal’s fashion district, the new PixMob office space is full of dynamism and edgy design statements. Canadian designer Jean de Lessard integrated the client’s DNA right into the space by reflecting the cutting edge digital technology research and creativity of PixMob. Large monolithic shapes seem to be carved out of the building bringing a sense of chaos and movement to the interior.
Image © Adrien Williams
From Jean de Lessard:
What form should take PixMob, a world renowned event specialist that the designer Jean de Lessard has insightfully sense as being born out of the collective movement and of beat?
Image © Adrien Williams
The site investigation has thus given birth to an emblematic protean space in which raw and dynamic shapes enhance the cutting edge digital technology research and creativity, the client’s DNA. Upon entrance, one discovers the first source of inspiration: that of the primary energy, this hypnotic rave-like movement, through a vibrant yellow and black staging.
We wanted to recreate the chaotic and nocturnal atmosphere of a show that would be making the space ’vibrate’ as if it were modulated by the now, and for the now!
– Jean de Lessard
Image © Adrien Williams
The design addresses both the designers, technicians and programmers requirements, transmuting the workspace into a unique platform of sound and light performance.
Imprint on space mitigation
Special attention was paid to conserving traces of the labouring past of former textile factory of the Chabanel district, in the north-central area of Montreal — one would almost think that this ‘spatial recycling’ is reminiscent of anti-design — such as poorly hewn wood and peeling white paint. Thanks to the culture of the ephemeral-oriented design, the high-ceiling place has finally revived. The recent wall partitions made of pine boards keep the original dynamics. The same goes for those former openings that, once preserved, are devising a more desirable path to the chaotic nature of a creative workshop than that of a conventional working place…
Image © Adrien Williams
Free movement is another key aspect. Knowing that vibrations affect the structure of things and the mind, the idea of sound propagation and of connectivity is emerging from a succession of open space rooms where 45 workstations and a café are placed. Priority given to the collective, closed offices have been limited to 10: administration, management, four meeting rooms, two of which are located in a towering second polyhedral monolith, a large conference room and adjoining the warehouse a third and last monolith that serves as a black box for the digital lighting programs experimentation.
In addition to space optimization, the two mezzanines help keep visual contact.
Image © Adrien Williams
Image © Adrien Williams
Image © Adrien Williams
Moreover, collaborating with Jean de Lessard’s team, the architects of the firm MU Architecture have ensured that each of the interventions and structures in this project with many constraints complies with Canada’s Building National Code. Like the sculptural staircases and the corridors, even the narrowest, the mezzanines reinforce the idea of networking between each floor and each area of activities.
Image © Adrien Williams
Image © Adrien Williams
This is also for light and sound-waves reverberation purposes. Sound waves travel through the air, are hitting obstacles, bypassing them and getting deflected elsewhere. The angularities of both the black monoliths and the yellow painted elements illustrate this vibratory principle. The entire space becomes music. As for the light which is at the core of PixMob’s activities, two skylights were reintegrated into the actual design as well as windows facing south to provide an adequate natural light. It allowed the designers to focus on setting an intimate artificial lighting, more conducive to creativity and celebration.
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- Image © Adrien Williams
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- Image © Adrien Williams
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- Image © Adrien Williams
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- Image © Adrien Williams
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- Image © Jean de Lessard
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- Image © Adrien Williams
Facts:
Client: PixMob
Design: Jean de Lessard – Designers Créatifs
Project manager: Alexa Adam
Architect: MU Architecture
General contractor: Construction St-Gelais
Site artistic director and carpenter: Dominic Samson
Materials: Steel, pine boards; also the original concrete, old bricks and wooden beams…
Parameters: Total surface: 10,000 square feet (including mezzanines and storage room)
Photography: Adrien Williams
*All images and information courtesy of Jean de Lessard.
