DESIGNING A LIFESTYLE
The Four Seasons Private Residences are a crowning feature of the recently completed Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
The architects and designers behind the recently completed Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, which includes the private residences, had as a mission to embody the luxury and refinement of the world-famous, Canadian-based hotel chain while integrating it with the historic Holt Renfrew Ogilvy building that has stood at the corner of de la Montagne Street and Ste-catherine Street since its opening in 1866.
“The overriding importance of integrating the building with its environment is reflected in several ways — sometimes assertive, sometimes subtle — and gives the project its relevance and longevity,” said Eric Pelletier, architect, senior partner and design principal at Lemay, which, in collaboration with Sid Lee Architecture, is behind the project’s design.
“The architecture draws its source from the spirit of place — its history, its community — to ultimately enhance the cityscape.”
Combining classic elegance with contemporary style, the resulting design — which has been compared to the grace of a gold chain on a black dress, due to the way the tower reflects light differently on each floor, accentuated by the bas-relief that separates the uniquely offset volumes according to their interior function — is bold and ever changing.
“The main challenge of the project was to create a space that could properly host such an iconic brand and seamlessly embody its values and ambitions at all levels,” said Martin Leblanc, architect and partner at Sid Lee Architecture.
“The building offers a strong presence in its neighbourhood, with a volume that reflects the different scales of the surrounding buildings, complemented by a series of insertions, a sought-after materiality and refined details.”
Crowning the building, from the 14th to the 18th floors, is the volume dedicated to the project’s 18 private residences — six of which are still on the market — and their extremely spacious loggias, which offer sweeping river, mountain and downtown skyline views.
“The residences are an integral part of the eco-system; they are very complementary with the rest of the project,” according to Philip Hazan, the private residences’ interior designer.
“The inspiration was luxury — creating a unique property that had large volumes, a bit of a countercurrent to projects being built elsewhere, having the notion of real luxury — the notion of large
spaces, big vistas.
The second objective was to build somewhat of a blank canvas that was not too modern nor too classic — an abstraction of classicism and modernism that everyone could relate to.”
While being relatable probably isn’t something the Four Seasons focuses on, being exclusive most certainly is.
“The residences are luxury spaces that don’t currently exist anywhere else in the city. It’s a unique offering — an original and creative expression of a downtown lifestyle,” said Philip Hazan, who also worked on the hotel’s interiors, including the marble-clad lobby with gold elevators and velvet seating, together with Parisian-based designers Gilles & Boissier.
“Materials are very high-end, including book-matched marble, Italian kitchens, European hardwood floors; lights are flangeless and residences have Lutron lighting systems, done to the highest level of quality. And the loggias offer incredible views of the city.”
Gilles & Boissier also worked on the pool, spa and fitness centre.
To breathe new life into the project and help develop a unique concept known as the social square, the Four Seasons partnered with Atelier Zébulon Perron to create an immersive space on the third floor that includes the hotel’s lobby as well as Marcus, the lounge/ bar/restaurant/terrace by Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson.
Marcus, which received the 2019 Design of the Year Eater Award for successfully immersing visitors into four distinct worlds — including one that’s reminiscent of an ocean and a second that feels like being in an enchanted forest — is a mix of minimalism and modernity, featuring materials such as marble, terrazzo, brass, white oak, and velvet.
In addition to its unique design, amenities, gourmet cuisine and extensive concierge, reception and valet services, owners of the private residences will also have access to ceramic artist Pascale Girardin’s larger than life installation, dubbed Contemplation.
Suspended in the project’s openair atrium from the 17th to the eighth floor, the sculpture — made of powder-coated aluminum, 24-karat gold leaf and stainless steel — is meant to evoke the cycles of nature, including the four seasons.