Mitchell Sweibel Studio, a Montreal architectural design firm, is proud to unveil its latest project, the renovation of an apartment in the Port-Royal tower. Located in the Golden Square Mile in downtown Montreal, the apartment, with an area of ​​3,580 square feet, is on the 30th floor of a 33-story residential building built in 1964, with an unobstructed view of Mount Royal.

The monumental building lobby proved to be an important study for conceptualizing the apartment renovation. The lobby features a limited selection of classic and noble materials. Simple lines and architectural forms repeat to create order, giving the lobby presence and elegance.

“Our goal was to introduce a contemporary language of design but remain faithful to the character of the building and its timeless architecture,” explains Mitchell Sweibel. 

Opening up to the mountain

The apartment, characterized by three expansive horizontal windows, offers breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Royal. It was essential to start the project by freeing these windows of any obstruction. The existing configuration of the apartment had to be completely overhauled.

A renovation project in a mid-20th century building presented some complex operational challenges. First, it was necessary to design the layout around the numerous building shafts, typical of constructions from this period. Additionally, the team had to move the existing plumbing under the concrete slab and distribute the ventilation to obtain a full height, uninterrupted ceiling throughout.

A structured and organized space

In order to organize the served and servant spaces, an axial wall was built to divide the apartment in two. The presence of the wall is accentuated by the transition in floor materials, thus becoming an object in space that invites curiosity. The wooden floors, laid with square joints, brings calm to such a vast space.

The mass walls of the building are bold features of the apartment, in a nod to their presence in the lobby, but here they are covered with lime plaster. These walls have qualities of order and symmetry that are repeated throughout the building.

Subtle details and noble materials

Where this units departs from the lobby is in the concept of misalignment, such as the transition of floor materials at the axial wall and subtle transitions of materials in the servant spaces. 

A limited palette of matte finishes and textured materials are applied throughout. The plaster walls paired with rough sawn walnut cabinets feature two noble materials expressed in a contemporary way. The ceramic tiles in the master bathroom are hand-made from Japan. The bedroom doors are custom back-painted glass. The exits for air ventilation are concealed in the reveal detail at the ceiling of the axial wall. The tracks of magnetic lighting allow for flexibility and creativity in lighting design.

“While the overall form of the apartment remains sympathetic to the order of building, these subtle differences become apparent to the keen eye,” concludes Mitchell Sweibel.