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Peel Project
By : MSDL Architectes
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Other categories in architecture / Concept & Unbuilt : Gold Certification
The Peel Project is located on the north side of Peel Street, between De Maisonneuve Boulevard West and Sherbrooke Street, near Mount Royal, McGill and Concordia Universities, as well as several hotels, shops and cultural establishments. As this segment of Peel Street combines a diversity of architectural styles, many of which bear witness to the area’s great historical value, the multiple scales and facade treatments of the neighbouring buildings strongly influenced the architectural design of the project.
GOLDEN SQUARE MILE
A CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION
When the first houses were built in the Golden Square Mile area, the landscape was very different from the one we know today: newly wealthy merchants, mostly of Scottish origin, were looking for the open spaces and fresh air of the countryside! They left the industrial zone of the old walled city (where Old Montreal is located) and settled on the slopes of Mount Royal. The history of the Golden Square Mile was a major inspiration for the design approach, particularly the reference to the Scottish sandstone façades that still exist in the area. This reddish-hued material may have been imported by Scottish businessmen building their homes in this part of town in the 1850s. A century and a half later, seduced by the rich colour of this stone, the architects propose a contemporary reinterpretation. The prefabricated concrete panels used for the main façade have a terracotta-red hue and a geometry reminiscent of the irregularly cut sandstone of that period.
The composition of the façade on Peel and the use of a material in this colour, characteristic of the site’s historic past, open a dialogue with the adjacent buildings, promoting optimal integration of the project into the built environment. What’s more, the arrangement of the concrete panels creates a pattern of bevelled mullions across the entire façade, attenuating the effect of verticality and generating, through its depth, a play of shadows that enlivens the façade according to the time of day. At night, the ornamentation on the main façade is accentuated by architectural lighting on the basilaire and crown, highlighting the frames of the openings and asserting the Peel Project’s presence in the Montreal landscape.
A NEW PLAYER
OF URBAN LIFE
The Peel Project aims to contribute to the dynamism of this important commercial axis of the metropolis by offering, on the first floor, a mezzanine that adds ceiling height to the commercial spaces and the lobby. The amplitude produced by this configuration, combined with the large windows, establishes the indoor-outdoor relationship, connecting the building to its environment and signalling the existence of this new living environment in the district.
In addition, the four-storey basilaire and slightly recessed tower help to frame the public space, provide a good supply of natural light to the dwellings and ensure an adequate level of privacy for residents. On the west side, the setback also opens views towards Mount Royal and to the west. These views will be particularly spectacular from the lounge area on the 23rd floor and from the adjacent rooftop terrace.
In the image of the Golden Square Mile District, which combines art, architecture and heritage, the interior design combines boldness, inspiration and elegance. Communal areas, such as the spa, gym and lounge, reveal hushed, intimate, warm ambiances. The singular, contemporary language of the project, expressed through furniture, textiles, light and colour, shapes comfortable and enveloping living spaces.
Overall, the architectural gesture aims to contribute to the collective memory. The Peel Project’s volumetry, the composition of its façades and its choice of materials are all designed to encourage encounters with natural, cultural and architectural heritage. Drawing on the area’s rich historical past, the project joins forces with the land, the people who have lived there over the years and those who live there today, to mark a new milestone in the development of the Golden Square Mile.
Collaboration
