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Alphonse Cuisine & Cocktails
By : LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture Design
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 14th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Accommodation, Restaurant & Bar / Restaurant > 1,600 sq.ft. (> 500 sq. m.) : Silver Certification
The Alphonse project consisted in the creation of a restaurant inspired by the spirit of banks as a tribute to the site's past vocation as a financial institution. The space, divided over two floors, one of which is in the basement, and totalling 2700 square feet, is located on a street frequented by walkers and tourists in Old Quebec City. The mandate was to develop a functional, dynamic and accessible space that could accommodate 62 people in the dining room, 30 on the terrace, and a dozen in its interior courtyard.
The constraint of space was real during conception. The client wanted a finishing kitchen on the first floor and a preparation kitchen in the basement, which required the demolition of a concrete vault whose walls were more than 12 inches thick.
Inside, the history of the place is reflected in antique furniture and memorabilia. The old entrance doors can be found in the washrooms and the vault now serves as a reception desk. Suspended light fixtures hanging from the white wooden ceiling plunge the room into a hushed and intimate atmosphere.
Natural and raw materials mix and match: custom-made ceramic mosaic flooring, walnut and white marble tables, green and natural leather benches, and an exposed brick wall. Behind the bar, a copper wall covered with pennies is the highlight of the interior design.
On the outside, the building is highlighted by its large windows that open onto the street, offering a view of the entire dining room in the evening.
Collaboration
Architect : LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture Design
Interior Designer : LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture Design
General Contractor : Laplante construction
Other : Mathieu Labrecque
Lighting : ABBE
