What form should take PixMob, a world renowned event specialist that the designer Jean de Lessard has insightfully sense as being borne out of the collective movement and of beat?

The site investigation has thus given birth to an emblematic protean space in which raw and dynamic shapes enhance the cutting edge digital technology research and creativity, the client’s DNA. Upon entrance, one discovers the first source of inspiration: that of the primary energy, this hypnotic rave-like movement, through a vibrant yellow and black staging. Jean de Lessard explains: “We wanted to recreate the chaotic and nocturnal atmosphere of a show that would be making the space ’vibrate’ as if it were modulated by the now, and for the now!“

The design addresses both the designers, technicians and programmers requirements, transmuting the workspace into a unique platform of sound and light performance.

Imprint on space mitigation

Special attention was paid to conserving traces of the labouring past of former textile factory of the Chabanel district, in the north-central area of Montreal — one would almost think that this ‘spatial recycling’ is reminiscent of anti-design — such as poorly hewn wood and peeling white paint. Thanks to the culture of the ephemeral-oriented design, the high-ceiling place has finally revived. The recent wall partitions made of pine boards keep the original dynamics. The same goes for those former openings that, once preserved, are devising a more desirable path to the chaotic nature of a creative workshop than that of a conventional working place…

Free movement is another key aspect. Knowing that vibrations affect the structure of things and the mind, the idea of ​​sound propagation and of connectivity is emerging from a succession of open space rooms where 45 workstations and a café are placed. Priority given to the collective, closed offices have been limited to 10: administration, management, four meeting rooms, two of which are located in a towering second polyhedral monolith, a large conference room and adjoining the warehouse a third and last monolith that serves as a black box for the digital lighting programs experimentation.

In addition to space optimization, the two mezzanines help keep visual contact.

Moreover, collaborating with Jean de Lessard’s team, the architects of the firm MU Architecture have ensured that each of the interventions and structures in this project with many constraints complies with Canada’s Building National Code.  Like the sculptural staircases and the corridors, even the narrowest, the mezzanines reinforce the idea of ​​networking between each floor and each area of activities.

This is also for light and sound-waves reverberation purposes. Sound waves travel through the air, are hitting obstacles, bypassing them and getting deflected elsewhere. The angularities of both the black monoliths and the yellow painted elements illustrate this vibratory principle. The entire space becomes music. As for the light which is at the core of PixMob’s activities, two skylights were reintegrated into the actual design as well as windows facing south to provide an adequate natural light. It allowed the designers to focus on setting an intimate artificial lighting, more conducive to creativity and celebration.

Photo credit: © Adrien Williams

Project technical specifications

Client: PixMob

Design: Jean de Lessard – Designers Créatifs

Project manager: Alexa Adam

Architect: MU Architecture

General contractor: Construction St-Gelais

Site artistic director and carpenter: Dominic Samson

Materials

Steel, pine boards; also the original concrete, old bricks and wooden beams…

Parameters

Total surface: 10,000 square feet (including mezzanines and storage room)

About Jean de Lessard – Designers Créatifs

Montreal-based designer Jean de Lessard combines over 25 years of design practice in various sectors.  He designs many creative interiors. His eclectic skills led him to work on a diversity of vocational spaces including offices, hotels, restaurants and boutiques.

Having amalgamated in its design practice many professional resources and findings of numerous socio-economic studies, the firm developed the custom-made approach “Duality of the individual and the community”. This innovative approach focused on the diversity of space occupation patterns is positioning Jean de Lessard – Designers Créatifs as one of the world’s pioneers of the creative development of individuals and societies.

The firm is a laureate of the Iconic Awards in Munich, the Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards in NYC and the Montreal’s Grands Prix du design in Montreal. Winner of prestigious prizes from the Association of Retail Environment in Chicago, its projects have also won the firm awards from the International Property Awards in London.