REAL ESTATE PROFILE
Q&A with Patrick Blanchette
Architect Patrick Blanchette, 33, grew up in Fermont, Que. — a northern mining town, population 3,000. His father was a director in the mining industry and his mother worked as an animator at Fermont’s cultural centre. When Patrick was 13, his dad died. One year later he moved to Asbestos, Que., with his mom and older brother.
With its population of 6,000, Asbestos felt like a big city. It was here that Patrick developed a passion for theatre and visual arts. A few years later the family relocated to Montreal, just in time for college.
We met at his home in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.
What did you study?
I began with interior design at CEGEP du Vieux Montréal, but the focus was mostly on colours and textures. I was more interested in a building ’s history. I switched to the cinema program at Collège Ahuntsic and learned about the importance of storytelling, which is still a big part of my work today. After college I chose to pursue architecture, in part because I wanted a career that offered financial stability.
Architecture is a blend of science and art; I lean more toward the artistic side. I did bachelor’s and master’s degrees, in architecture, at l’Université de Montréal, graduating in 2009.
Where did you work?
I took an 18-month break from school between my degrees and got a job with Desnoyers Mercure Architectes. Coincidentally, architect Maurice Desnoyers had designed my hometown, Fermont, back in the 1960s. The town’s defining feature is an enormous wall — 50 metres high and 1.3 kilometres long — that contains dwellings, schools, hotels and stores. The wall was conceived to provide housing while sheltering residents from the harsh winter wind.
I returned to Fermont for my master’s project. It was very difficult to be back there. In northern towns, many people suffer from depression because of the extreme weather and isolation; the suicide rate is very high. My project brought in greenhouses, creating an agriculture zone, which connects mining families to natural resources.
And after graduating ?
I attended a reception for Louis Bohème condos and met its architect, Anik Shooner, of Menkès Shooner Dagenais Letourneux. She thought I would click with her partner, Jean-Pierre Letourneux, and she was right. He hired me and became a mentor.
My first project with Jean-Pierre was to design Pavillon Vimont — the new girls’ school at École Jeande-Brébeuf. The space had previously been a dormitory for Jesuit priests. It was an opportunity to honour a building ’s history while adding a new layer.
Tell me about Maison St-Édouard.
This is a part of the O’Nessy condo project by Devimco in Shaughnessy Village, featuring 19 highend units. Le St-Édouard is the redevelopment of a historic building which was a residence for the elderly, operated by a religious community. The structure was in bad shape but we were able to keep much of the exterior intact and reveal some original details.
Later that year (2015) I was hired by Devimco as their lead architect in charge of art direction.
And EstWest Condominiums?
Devimco hired Jean-Pierre Letourneux for this project and I was thrilled to be working with him again.
EstWest is part of Square Children’s, which includes commercial space, a cultural centre, rental units and condos (on the Tupper Street site of the old Children’s Hospital). The vision I had for this beloved landmark was about happiness and playfulness with plenty of green space. Est-West consists of two 30-storey towers, each with 350 units. The name is a nod to Montreal’s French and English communities and to Eastern and Western cultures.
What came next?
MaryRobert is a luxury condo development — two non-identical towers on a pedestal — at Peel and Wellington Streets. I decided to hold a competition, among Quebec artists, to create artwork which would become Montreal’s biggest art installation. The winner was 82-year-old René Derouin. His piece pays homage to the First Nations and the ethnic groups that founded Montreal. It will be a serigraphic representation on four facades of MaryRobert, visible from near and far.
And now? For the past few months, I have worked independently, designing homes; I love this so much.
Recently, I accepted a position as director of architecture for A+, a builder of commercial and office spaces.
What do you enjoy in your spare time?
My boyfriend directs theatrical productions so we see a lot of plays. I make pottery in a workshop in my home and collect art. We attend exhibits at museums and galleries.
What puts the spring in your step?
I have a passion for design and strive to develop spaces in which we can live better together. Because of my youth in Fermont, I have an acute awareness of the despair isolation can bring. Some of my designs include winter gardens with outdoor fireplaces, offering residents the opportunity to share the warmth of human contact year-round.