In the heart of Saint-Henri, one of Montreal’s most storied and evolving neighborhoods, Ivy Studio unveils Clinique Vétérinaire Saint-Henri (CVSH), a 3,000 sq.ft. veterinary clinic that reimagines clinical environments with warmth, light, and material richness. Located on the ground floor of a three-storey mixed-use building, the clinic’s street-front presence is articulated through two oversized glass sliding doors, which open the space toward the urban fabric, blurring boundaries between interior and exterior.
The project’s spatial layout is anchored by a vaulted ceiling that extends through the entire clinic, lending a sense of continuity and grandeur to the experience. At the front of house, the space is split into two zones—reception and boutique—separated by a centrally positioned closed staircase leading to the apartments above. Tucked beneath the stairwell is a discreet client washroom, seamlessly integrated into the oak-panelled envelope.
The reception area is defined by a custom quartzite desk paired with blue lacquered wood. Behind it, a red oak wall unit provides integrated storage and display for select pet-care products. Adjacent to this zone, the boutique doubles as a waiting room—a luminous and verdant environment anchored by a central island that echoes the material language of the reception. Seating is nestled into the greenery, while recessed wall niches softly highlight curated retail offerings.
A large partition in clear and fluted glass separates the boutique from the treatment area, following the geometry of the vaulted ceiling. This transparency allows natural light to penetrate deep into the layout, creating a dynamic visual connection between client and clinical spaces. At the core of the program, the open treatment room becomes a central node—home to three treatment tables, a pharmacy, lab, custom stainless steel cages, and a grooming tub—all framed by clean sightlines and technical precision.
Between the front and back of house, five exam rooms are arranged along a corridor and connect both client and staff circulation. Designed with dual access to the reception and treatment room, these spaces are outfitted with bespoke red oak benches topped with butter yellow lacquered seating. Adjustable lighting ensures a tailored ambiance across varying consultation needs.
At the rear of the clinic, two surgical rooms—dental and general—are separated by a shared prep space. A newly inserted high window along the back façade brings controlled daylight into these rooms while preserving privacy from the alley. A secondary entrance for staff opens into a functional service zone, including a kitchenette, washroom, and office.
The material and lighting palette is conceived to evoke calm, clarity, and professionalism. Walls and vaulted ceilings throughout the client-facing areas are coated in a hand-applied cream limewash, which—under strategically recessed lighting—reveals delicate texture and warmth. The flooring in these zones is finished in marble terrazzo, while back-of-house areas transition into taupe-hued marmoleum.
Acoustic wood-wool paneling in a color-matched tone clads the flat ceilings, while butter yellow fine mesh grilles define the ceilings in consultation rooms. Subtle injections of color—powder blue lacquers and yellow details—animate the neutral base of cream and taupe, red oak millwork, and soft textures. Technical elements, including stainless steel cages and equipment, are deliberately expressed in their raw finish, reinforcing a clean and lab-like aesthetic in medical zones.
From layout to lighting, CVSH challenges the sterile clinical archetype. With its balanced interplay of transparency, natural light, tactile finishes, and playful color accents, the clinic offers a considered, human-centric environment that enhances the experience of pets, their owners and the professionals who serve them.
Team:
Design + Architecture: Ivy
Construction: Groupe Manovra
Team: Gabrielle Rousseau + David Kirouac + Guillaume B. Riel + Philip Staszewski + Vincent Maillé + Sandra Zimmermann + Jérémi Brodeur
Photos : Alex Lesage
