Distinctions

Discipline : Interior Design

Categories : Culture, Community, Sport & Wellness / Culture: Museum & Gallery : Gold certification

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents From the Functional to the Fabulous: 600 Years of Decorative Arts and Design , a major reinstallation of its decorative arts and design collection, considered one of the most significant in North America.Spanning nearly 2,000 square metres in the heart of the Liliane and David M. Stewart Pavilion—a marvel of Brutalist architecture designed by Fred David Lebensold—this presentation, open to the public since September 2025, brings together some 800 works and objects created by over 400 designers, artists, and artisans from around the world.The exhibition design first highlights the architectural richness of the pavilion by drawing on its distinctive features: the coffered ceiling structure is echoed in the display of cantilevered walls of furniture and chairs, while the materiality of concrete extends into the legs of the display cases. The raw, assertive presence of concrete is balanced by a search for lightness and fluidity: white platforms appear to float thanks to deep recesses, and ultra-clear custom vitrines provide optimal visibility of the works. Particular attention has been paid to accessibility, extending the architect’s forward-thinking vision at the time of the pavilion’s construction to create an inclusive and intuitive museum experience.The graphic design component complements this environment by applying rigorous standards for readability and wayfinding: sans-serif typefaces, generous line spacing, left alignment, strong color contrasts, optimized print materials and supports, careful lighting and positioning of texts, as well as clear numbering and orientation of labels.The overall approach balances clarity, elegance, and immersion to offer a harmonious and memorable museum experience. The Museum presents a fully reimagined curatorial path that moves away from traditional classifications in favor of a transhistorical and theme-based approach, encouraging reflection on the central role objects play in our lives. Presented across two levels, visitors are first guided through the emotional and cultural dimensions of objects before exploring their technical and innovative aspects.As a striking focal point, Dale Chihuly’s The Sun (2003), located at the center of the pavilion, transforms the spatial experience and serves as both a visual and symbolic landmark. Around this iconic work, everyday objects stand alongside exceptional pieces, revealing the richness and diversity of design across the centuries.By showcasing rarely exhibited works and recent acquisitions, the project goes beyond a simple spatial reconfiguration: it profoundly renews perspectives on the collection and redefines the museum’s role as a place for experience, reflection, and the transmission of design. It affirms design as an essential discipline at the intersection of art, innovation, and human experience.

Dale Chihuly (né en 1941), Le soleil, 2003. MBAM, achat, dons de J. Sebastian van Berkom, Marcel et Caroline Elefant, un donateur anonyme, Jacqueline Desmarais, Financière Sun Life, John A. et Phyllis Rae, Lunettes Polaroid, Lunetterie New Look, ainsi que des milliers de visiteurs et visiteuses et de membres du Musée qui ont contribué à cette acquisition. © Chihuly Studio / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / CARCC Ottawa 2026. Photo MBAM, La collection d’arts décoratifs et de design dans le pavillon Liliane et David M. Stewart. Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. Photo MBAM, Denis Farley, La collection d’arts décoratifs et de design dans le pavillon Liliane et David M. Stewart. Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. Photo Thibault Carron, La collection d’arts décoratifs et de design dans le pavillon Liliane et David M. Stewart. Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. Photo MBAM, Jean-François Brière, Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, pavillon Liliane et David M. Stewart. Photo MBAM, Jean-François Brière

The project in images