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Le Rendez-Vous Gourmand of Complexe Desjardins
By : RÉGIS
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Accommodation, Restaurant & Bar / Food Court : Platinum Winner
Categories : Special Awards / Interior Design + Colour : Bronze Certification
Located in the heart of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles, the food court of the Complexe Desjardins needed to be redesigned to reflect the vitality and modernity of the area, while maintaining the prestige of the skyscraper complex as one of the city’s landmarks.
Situated in what should have been a strategic location on the large plaza connecting the 4 towers of the building complex, the existing food court was unfortunately a washed-out, dark, compartmentalized space with no clear circulation axis and a high volume of people passing through without stopping. Accessibility to the restrooms was one of the many problems in the area, and the seating was unorganized, giving the space an off-putting character. The architectural intent was to go beyond a simple renovation of the facilities, as the success of the project depended on enlarging and decompartmentalizing the food court to open it up to the public. To create new interest, the 1,036 seats for the 21 concessions were divided into several subgroups, each of which was given a specific treatment to create different zones: chic and sophisticated, funky and lounge, botanical and organic, as well as a French bistro area. The different atmospheres were created through a clever composition of colors, lighting, plants, and artwork, all in harmony with the materiality of the building. Circulation routes were clearly defined, and furniture was cleverly coordinated to create visually identifiable areas to facilitate spatial orientation. The quality and user-friendliness of the whole is determined by the use of materials that are both sober and durable; the visitor’s path is interrupted by a succession of more than thirty ceramics, sometimes on the floor, sometimes on the walls, in formats and shades that generate a high level of refinement.
In addition to the desired innovations in interior design, the architectural thinking had to consider the normative realities of Complexe Desjardins as a whole, as well as the constraints related to various types of spaces, such as ceiling clearances and potential areas for dining room installation. Each constraint was seen as an opportunity for improvement. The high level of humidity associated with the integration of natural plants led to the specification of adapted finishes capable of withstanding the expected level of saturation, while user comfort was enhanced by the effect of plants on air quality.
Design strategies were developed based on technical and aesthetic considerations, but also on functional imperatives, with the idea that the food court and related spaces would become a complete service center for visitors, with the addition of a nursing room, storage facilities and the integration of ATMs.
Building on its presence at the epicenter of events, the new gourmet Rendez-Vous now puts Complexe Desjardins on the map of must-see places in Montreal for workers, Montrealers and tourists alike.
