Starbucks

Drawing inspiration from the Russian doll metaphor, the concept of this bistro-café was that of a "coffeehouse within a house", echoing the neighborhood's architectural heritage and origins. The core idea was to create a space that blended a chic Victorian tea room with an urban lounge. To achieve this, the interior shell, including the mezzanine, was completely demolished to create a majestic double-height space adorned with moldings and picture frames inspired by Westmount's Victorian architectural vernacular. A minimalist timber house structure was then inserted to form a more intimate space with a lower ceiling, creating the desired "shop within a shop" effect. This unique architectural gesture conveys the authenticity of the space while strikingly marking the layout and echoing the historical richness of the neighborhood. Rustic wood walls and custom hot-rolled steel service counters create a striking contrast with the Victorian "tea room" area at the store's entrance.

Like all new Starbucks stores in Canada since 2010, this store was designed to LEED specifications and incorporates local recycled and reclaimed materials, such as rustic wood used on the walls, ceiling, and bar. Our firm also ensured the mechanical and electrical components aligned with LEED-CI certification. This project created a warm and inviting ambiance and received several design awards, including the Sustainable Development Award and the Grand Prix du design in 2015, and the Architizer A+ Awards Jury Prize for "Architecture + Branding" in 2014. Our collaboration with Starbucks spans five years, with over 50 stores deployed across Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritime provinces, and participation in the creation of approximately 150 stores.