Set across three levels in the Nordelec building, this fully custom-designed pied-à-terre in Montreal's Sud-Ouest blends functionality and atmosphere. A mobile DJ console, built-in bed and tatami space: every detail is designed around how it's used. From the terrace, the view of the Farine Five Roses sign extends the experience, balancing intimacy with an iconic skyline.
The central idea of the project was to give each of the three levels its own identity while maintaining coherence between them. The open-concept ground floor needed to serve as a home office while also accommodating friends and family. To fit a workspace into a limited area, a concrete shelf was installed along the large windows, allowing full use of daylight and, in the evening, transforming into a bar surface for drinks. A music lover, the client has an extensive vinyl collection, so the firm proposed a built-in, custom-designed DJ console with a turntable. To maximize configuration options, the console is mobile.
Upstairs, where the bedroom and main bathroom are located, the client wanted a Japanese-inspired atmosphere, a nod to her travels in Japan — though the designers were careful to avoid clichés. They favored a layout unconventional for Asian design, notably opening up the shower wall to let in natural light. They then created a dramatic, contrasted zone using small black tiles throughout the room to produce a sense of intimate enclosure.
To open up the sightlines, the old guardrail was replaced with a glass structure. Ceiling and floor tones were chosen to create a positive/negative effect. Black walnut wood also contrasts with the deliberately understated, pale bedroom, which features a custom-designed bed with a walnut headboard. The overall effect remains bright and airy, as frosted panels let natural light pass through freely.
Original portions of the ceiling — sprinklers and ventilation ductwork — weighed the space down despite its height, so wood slats were added both on the ground floor and upstairs to create visual coherence across the volumes. Some original elements were preserved, including brick walls that speak to the building's industrial past.
On the terrace level, Atelier Paradis created a tatami space. Once again, the client's desired atmosphere was honored while avoiding clichés. To address the limited footprint, storage is built into the base of the mattresses — a solution that came with its own logistical challenges.
Here too, large windows offer striking views, including the iconic Farine Five Roses sign and even the Olympic Stadium, several kilometers away. Since the terrace also serves as a passageway for other residents in the building, privacy was a concern. Atelier Paradis's solution was to install five large sliding rice-paper panels, which provide the necessary privacy while strongly contributing to the desired atmosphere.
