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During the 70's or 80's, buildings with high ceiling were deliberately and systemically lowered for weird convention. Then the intrinsic value of head space were recognized and a phenomenon coined the name "Loft" supplanted. New owners may very well repeat similar mistakes, i.e., installing the floor with trendy plastic or synthetic materials. But the designers were confident and predicted that the compelling exposed concrete character will win the day!
"To have a vibrant city, people have to live and work downtown. Look at Atlanta, or Detroit. Projects like The Merchandise Building will regenerate the core." -- Gluckstein.
The Gluckstein
The Gluckstein
"This building was built 86 years ago. It is still recognized as a handsome building. Eighty years from now, people will say that it is a fantastic building from 1910. All we are doing is enhancing. Not changing." -- Gluckstein.
When the developers of the Merchandise Building commissioned the interior design for the common areas and the model suites, they did something altogether unusual. Instead of hiring one outfit to create a "signature look," they called in three of the hottest firms in town.
The designers worked in unison to create three different takes on the same theme -- using honest, simple industrial materials to pay homage to a remarkable building.
Here, they talk about how it happened. And why they had so much fun.
The Cecconi-Simone
The Cecconi-Simone
Defined by solid flute columns, unfinished ceiling and stained concrete floor juxtaposed by the clean-line vertical lightings, the street-level lobby does not contrive to hide the building's utility and industrial past. Pragmatically, nothing is better than the age-defying stained concrete floor deliberately chosen for hiding the dirts and weathering elements from being too obvious in this high traffic entrance lobby.
"The materials used in the Merchandise Building are very honest. Date-less. And the colours have been left pure." -- Simone.
"In the lobby, we didn't want to convey 'I've arrived, these are my values that grand sense that was the vogue five or six years ago. We wanted to create an active space where people would read their mail, drink their coffee, meet clients or friends. A social environment. Something that is the opposite of pretentious." -- Pushelberg.
The Atrium - Pushelberg
The Atrium - Pushelberg
An economical textured fabric covering of a structural supporting pillar was to add the softness and a translucent warm glow (as opposed to the use of harder, glaring and invading LED blue light) to an otherwise very hard and large atrium space. A thick area carpets and soft cushioned furnitures effectively absorb the sound and dampens echos.
Photos can never do justice to space. Note the size of the grand piano can perhaps correct the often false perception of the actual scale of the space projected from a photograph.
"I don't believe that a true industrial loft building can be created from the ground up. The character of the building is what makes the interiors." -- Simone.
The Rooftop
The Rooftop
Under the current economic climate of the city, everything else surrounding the Merchandise Lofts will go up and up. Relentlessly, this rooftop will always be the focus to the eyes of its neighbors.
A well designed green and functional rooftop will turn eyes of envy!
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