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Château D’Ivoire
By : Archi-
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Commercial Space / Commercial Space > 5,400 sq.ft. (> 500 sq.m.) : Platinum Winner
A legacy
The Château d’Ivoire jewelry store, a luxury icon since 1978, is internationally renowned for its product range and custom jewelry design. Nestled in the heart of the prestigious Mille Carré Doré commercial district in Montréal and at the foot of Mount Royal, the jewelry store occupied the basements of three connected triplexes. Turning a new leaf in its legacy, Château d’Ivoire approached Archi- to reinvent its retail space in a way that would fully embody its reputation.
The jewelry store’s interior design was part of a wider mandate, that of the construction of the new four-storey building. The opportunity to design both architecture and interior allowed the architects consider the project in its totality, creating a dialogue between the two. The project offers over 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and an additional 15 000 sq. ft. of laboratory, administrative and meeting spaces, generating a multi-use and multi-purpose environment.
Identity and cohesion
The primary challenge was to create a unique and recognizable identity for Château d’Ivoire while integrating several dozen independent brands, each with their own design and spatial requirements. To achieve this, the designers created a sober yet distinctive architectural system, using specific gestures and materials that would provide consistency throughout the store. Custom fluted panels adorn the walls, forming columns between the various brands, which are always integrated inside brass frames. The brass frames serve as a threshold between the host Château d’Ivoire and the brands, regardless of their spatial requirements, be it simple shelves to recessed display cases, or even entire rooms. The Quebec-crafted lighting fixtures play a role in shaping the atmosphere and identity of the space.
Light as a landmark
The central atrium is the point around which the entire space revolves, a focal point bathing the store in natural light. At the center is a monumental staircase, a sculpture travelling from one level to the next, accompanying the user from one floor to the next. Crafted from Corian and chiselled jewel, it takes on different shapes depending on the point of view. The stair first invites visitors up to the second floor, then guides them strategically to the service center and eventually draws them to an intriguing third floor. The vertical circulation therefore becomes an architectural promenade, an event, animating the entire atrium and its surrounding spaces.
The ascent
The functions and activities of the store are laid out in such a way to offer increased exclusivity as one moves vertically up the four floors. The ground welcomes the visitor and offers the most prestigious brands via a series of shop-in-shops. On the second level, Château d’Ivoire’s exclusive jewelry collection is put on display in custom display cases of various sizes, followed by a service center. The third level reveals an entirely different world, including a café-lounge, meeting spaces, administrative offices, and laboratories that put on display the unique work of the jewelers. Finally, on the fourth floor, a private reception area opens onto a terrace and green roof, creating an exclusive escape in the heart of the city.
The new Chateau d’Ivoire is the result of a close collaboration between client and architect during every phase of the project, from the definition of needs to the construction of the building, from the interior design down to the smallest details of the. custom furniture and displays. The result is a space that goes beyond traditional retail. It becomes a destination and offers a unique experience where visitors prolong their stay and where staff benefit from a stimulating and comfortable working environment.
