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Revitalization of the Guy-L.Côté Mediatheque by Inscape le studio
By : Inscape le studio
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Culture, Sport & Leisure / Library : Platinum Winner
Inscape le Studio is at the heart of the revitalization of the Guy-L.Côté Médiathèque at the Cinémathèque québécoise, which is presenting a concept inspired by the seventh art for the renovation of this consultative space prized by moviegoers.
Observing a decline in traffic, Cinémathèque assigned Inscape le studio a mandate to reposition Médiathèque Guy-L.Côté as a destination of choice for film researchers. Located in the heart of Montreal, Médiathèque Guy-L.-Côté is a consulting space for film archives and books opened to researchers, students, and anyone interested in the history of cinema and its current reality. Inscape took on the challenge of creating a unique and surprising space, while respecting the client’s rigorous program.
« We had a desire to let the language of films guide our creative process in order to stage a place that personifies the passion of cinema and inspires visitors, » explains Claudia Di Gregorio, designer and founder of Inscape le Studio. « As you walk through the space, you discover the effects of light and transparency, trompe l’oeil, blurring, and contrasting effects. »
A bright, warm colour palette was used to contrast with the existing monochromatic architecture. This carefully chosen palette helps define the four main zones that make up the space: the reception area, the lounge area, the quiet zone, and the entertainment area.
The reception area is marked by a coppery-orange mass that directs visitors to an imposing perforated steel reception counter. The transparency caused by this perforation changes according to the point of view, inviting visitors to question what they see.
In the lounge area, the focal point is expressed by a set of circles, perceptible at a precise point where the visitor can appreciate the concept. The central space is furnished with a comfortable ochre-yellow circular sofa that offers researchers a less formal option for consulting documents.
At the back of the Médiathèque, a quiet area is dedicated to viewing and consulting archives. Particular care has been taken in the treatment of this area, with the use of a dark blue colour that invokes a sense of silence and calm. Two semi-enclosed viewing areas were created to promote user comfort and concentration. The shape chosen imitates that of the mattebox (part of a camera’s eyepiece), allowing the user to cut off contact with the outside environment and in order to facilitate viewing. The interior of the mattebox is covered with felt for sound absorption. The other stations in the area are illuminated by custom-designed lighting fixtures designed to meet the specific needs of archival document consultation.
The animation zone, dedicated to meetings, conferences, and training sessions, is undoubtedly the space where there is the most movement and activity in the Médiathèque. As a backdrop, a large, colourful, and rhythmic mural bridges all of the zones and integrates each of the project’s colours. The mural, an artwork by artist Serges Clément, aligns perfectly with Inscape’s conceptual vision.
Médiathèque offers a unique, warm, and functional design that now meets the needs of its clientele from both home and abroad.
Collaboration
