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LABO
By : NEUF architect(e)s
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Residence / Residential Space > 5,400 sq.ft. (> 500 sq.m.) : Gold Certification
Located between the Westmount and Saint-Henri neighbourhoods, labo is currently experiencing a third revival with a residential project of over 300 units. The former pharmaceutical laboratories established nearly 100 years ago had already been converted in 1969 to become a hub for exchange and learning as part of Dawson College. Closed in 1999, the site was left abandoned for several decades before being acquired by local developers and transformed into a housing complex attuned with the new era of energy efficiency.
The interior design by NEUF integrates an architectural project also realized by the firm. This includes the restoration of the heritage brick façade and preservation of the concrete structure, the addition of a series of volumes on top of the existing building, and the development of a new construction divided into two volumes and six storeys. Given its proximity to the existing Dawson College and Concordia University, the project was designed to accommodate a large number of students in studios and one-bedroom apartments. Social interaction with the neighbourhood is also encouraged by the development of coworking spaces and community gardens.
The project’s identity was defined in collaboration with a marketing firm – hence the LABO’s original signature, inspired by a New York urban flavour. The design and layout of the lofts follow this concept, including large open spaces, raw materials and street art interventions, such as the mural in the entrance hall.
