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
