New offices Atelier Guy architects

Discipline : Interior Design

Categories : Office / Office ≤ 5,400 sq.ft. (≤ 500 sq. m.) : Gold certification

At the heart of its philosophy, Atelier Guy architects works for an architecture that embodies the principles of sustainable land management, soft densification, and revitalization of central neighborhoods. In February 2017, our team materialized this vision by settling in the heart of the Saint-Sauveur district in Lower Town Quebec. Due to the growth of the company, we moved in 2022 to more spacious premises, still on the same street, to meet the new needs of our team.

With this new address, Atelier Guy architects reaffirms its commitment to the renewal of a neighborhood in full transformation. The building, deeply renovated, now benefits from a second life, thus contributing to the revitalization of the dynamic Saint-Vallier West artery. This intervention also demonstrates our desire to actively participate in the rebirth of this lively sector.

The main intervention made on the building is the change of use of the ground floor commercial space, moving from a retail space to an office space. Built in 1930, this building of great heritage interest had accumulated, over the years, a series of successive transformations and additions of materials creating multiple layers without coherence, significantly weighing down the readability of the ground floor space.

Today, the renovated space houses all the members of our architecture firm, but also offers shared rental workspaces with other local businesses. The space is centered around a large open workshop with 16 workstations, surrounded by 5 enclosed offices and a conference room. An open and spacious kitchen and a cozy lounge area are set up at the front, fully exploiting the social and light potential of the original large windows.

The architectural concept chosen for this new business venue is based on the search for clarity, transparency, and light. The building was stripped of all the components that had accumulated there such as ductwork, partitions, and the heterogeneous materiality that stifled it. Through selective gutting, the building's unique architectural elements were revealed. Brick walls, windows, original moldings ceilings, columns, and textures now contribute to the identity of the place while elegantly highlighting its history. A minimum of elements was added to preserve the essence of the building while meeting the new program: glass walls, integrated concealed furniture, lighting, and greenery.

In addition, in line with the civil works planned in the area, the building will undergo notable improvements in the waterproofing of its foundations, thus ensuring its longevity for future generations. The interventions are designed with lightness and finesse to provide fluidity and an optimal co-working space.

The project in images