2008 Edition

Highlights

The second edition of the Design Montréal Open House came to a close on May 4, 2008, capping two days devoted to meetings between members of the public and Montréal designers and architects, as well as visits to inspiring locations all over the city. Over 11,000 visits were recorded during this impressive celebration of design, as the public had occasion to visit, free of charge, more than 70 Montréal agencies, projects and sites devoted to design.

Created in response to Montréal’s designation as a UNESCO City of Design, the Design Montréal Open House event represented a singular opportunity to discover the men and women who devote their talents and creativity to enhancing Montréalers’ living spaces. Over the course of the two-day event, visitors had the chance to meet the originators of Montréal-based projects that have been honoured by national and international architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, industrial design, graphic design, fashion design and urban planning competitions.

In their workplaces, designers proudly displayed their most recent achievements. Giant-screen projections, 3D models, guided activities and visits, as well as interactive tools were among the many means used to help visitors better understand the work of designers and demystify their perceptions of design, in a welcoming, friendly atmosphere conducive to exchanges and discussions.

This year’s Open House featured two new activities: the presentation of exhibitions by graduating classes in the various university disciplines related to design and architecture, and a Pecha Kucha night dedicated to emerging design practices. Both events allowed the public to become acquainted with the immense talent, daring and ingenuity of the next generation of Montréal designers.

Partners et organization

The Design Montréal Open House is an initiative of the Ville de Montréal in partnership with the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine du Québec, pursuant to the Agreement on the Cultural Development of Montréal, with support from the Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal.

Partenaires organisateurs

Association des architectes paysagistes du Québec
Association des designers industriels du Québec
Association professionnelle des designers d’intérieur du Québec
• Créativité Montréal
• Fonds d'études et de recherches en design intérieur de l'Est (FERDIE)
Grafika
Héritage Montréal
• Intérieurs
Institut royal d’architecture du Canada
Ordre des architectes du Québec
Ordre des urbanistes du Québec
• Sauvons Montréal
Sensation Mode
Société des designers graphiques du Québec

Québec and Canadian professional competions referenced

Créativité Montréal Competition, 2007 — Business and office design competition
Grafika Competition, 2007 — Graphic design, exhibition design, event design and Web design competition
Graphex Competition, 2006 — Society of Graphic Designers of Canada competition: graphic design, exhibition design and Web design
Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, 2006 — Recognizing outstanding achievements in Canadian architecture
Ordre des architectes du Québec Award of Excellence, 2007 — Architecture competition
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence 2007 — Canadian Architect magazine architecture competition
RAIC National Urban Design Awards, 2006 — Royal Architectural Institute of Canada regional and national urban design competition
Canadian Institute of Planners Award of Excellence, 2007 — Competition honouring excellence in Québec design
Institute of Design Montréal Prize, 2007 — Competition honouring excellence in Québec design
Award of Excellence, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, 2007 — Landscape architecture competition
Intérieurs FERDIE Prize, 2007 — Interior design and interior products design competition
Les Arts et la Ville Prize, 2007 — Award of merit promoting public recognition of the cultural commitment of municipalities
Save Montréal Orange Awards, 2006 — Architecture and urban design awards
Best of Canada Design Competition, 2007 — Canadian Interiors magazine competition: industrial design, interior design, architecture, arts & crafts
Fashion — As there is no local competition, Sensation Mode was mandated to recommend Montréal fashion designers for selection by the Open House
Emerging Practices — Pecha Kucha Montréal Emerging Practices Selections, chosen among participants in the organization’s Pecha Kucha Nights

Designers and places to visit

On Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, Montréal design offices that have won distinctions in national and international competitions in 2006 and 2007 opened their doors to present the work that earned them these prestige awards. The designers of Montréal-based projects were on hand to talk about their creations and answer visitors’ questions.

61 design offices and agencies

Architecture, urban design and interior design

• Affleck + de la Riva architectes
• Atelier Big City
• Atelier TAG
• Bosses design
• Brière, Gilbert + associés, Architectes
• Daoust Lestage archictecture design urbain
• Groupe Cardinal Hardy
• INDESIGN / Conrath Architecte
• Jodoin Lamarre Pratte et associés Architectes
• Julien Architectes
• Lapointe Magne et associés
• Les architectes Boutros + Pratte
• Luc Laporte, Architecte
• Marosi + Troy
• Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes
• _naturehumaine architecture & design
• Ouellet Architectes
• Pierre Morency Architecte
• Provencher Roy + associés Architectes /Moureaux Hauspy + associés designers
• Rubin & Rotman associés
• Saia Barbarese Topouzanov Architectes
• Smith Vigeant Architectes
• Workshop architecture + design

Landscape architecture and urban design

• Atelier Urban Soland
• Bouffard, Chaussard, Fournelle
• Claude Cormier Architectes Paysagistes
• La vie en Vert, architectes paysagistes
• Planex Consultants
• Stuart Webster Design / Daccord Webster Paysage
• WAA - Williams Asselin Ackaoui et associés

Interior design

• GSM Design Expositions
• Jacques Bilodeau, designer d’intérieur
• Materia Design
• Pierre Choinière et Claudine Blanchet
• René Desjardins designer d’intérieur

Industrial design and exclusive furniture design

• Alto Design
• Brave Design
• Douglas Ball
• Moine Urbain
• Morelli Designers
• Ute Wolff

Graphic design

• Baillat Cardell et fils
• Bluesponge
• Centre de communications visuelles de la Ville de Montréal
• Identica branding & design
Mélissa Mongiat
• Moment Factory
• orangetango
• Sid Lee

Fashion design

• Bodybag by Jude Clothing
• Cluc Couture
• Dinh Ba design
• Envers par Yves Jean Lacasse
• Helmer
• M0851
• Mylène B
• Philippe Dubuc
• Rudsak
• Tavan & Mitto
• Véronique Miljkovitch

15 sites

Architecture and urban design

• Elevator, Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
• Streetscape along Côte-des-Neiges Road
• Pavillons Lassonde, École polytechnique de Montréal

Landscape architecture

• Westmount sound barrier

Interior design

Bar Plan B
Boutique Le Comptoir d’Ailleurs
• Offices of Bos agency
•Offices of Orangetango agency
• Offices of Sid Lee agency
• Café Quattro D
Parisian Laundry Gallery
• Glacier Le Bilboquet
Loft Encadrex
• Residence in Saint-Henri

7 exhibitions

Canadian Centre for Architecture, Utopia’s Ghost: Postmodernism Reconsidered exhibition
Centre de design de l’UQAM, exhibition by graduating class, Graphic Design
Galerie Yellow Fish Art, third instalment of Momentary Monuments exhibition by Kuehn Malvezzi Architects
• Monopoli, galerie d’architecture, photo exhibition by Jogues Rivard, "Raider of the Lost Buildings"
• Concordia University, exhibition by graduating class, Design Art program
• Université de Montréal, exhibition by graduating class, Faculty of Environmental Design
• McGill University, exhibition highlighting student work from the Fall 2007 and Winter 2008 professional-program studios

Other activities

Canadian Centre for Architecture, book launch and family-oriented activity
• Héritage Montréal walking tour of lobbies of downtown Montréal office buildings
• Pecha Kucha Night devoted to emerging designers and design practice

Documents