Café Constance in Montréal by Atelier Zébulon Perron.

In downtown Montreal, Atelier Zébulon Perron has devised a cafe and cocktail bar in the lobby of the Wilder Building. Home of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the space was conceived as a meeting place for patrons attending the ballet’s productions by night, and a more conventional cafe for artists and employees by day. The studio have in the process created a truly warm and whimsical interior in the heart of a contemporary institutional building.

“We adopted a theatrical approach in order to build a sort of spectacle that is really quite literal,” explains Zébulon Perron, founder and lead designer of the firm. “The idea was to create something that seems completely out of place, and that captivates the imagination in a strange and wonderful way.”

The space’s high ceilings were reduced to a more intimate and human scale through the insertion of a marquise above the bar area. The back bar’s design elements include bevelled glass, mirrors, and backlighting reminiscent of a theatrical wardrobe setting, and its canopy completes a ground-level vibe, characterized by hints of a dollhouse-like atmosphere that beckons patrons of the café.

Taking inspiration from Muybridge’s famous stop motion sequences, Café Constance features sequentially positioned, custom-designed tutu lamps that flow through the space and taper its expanse to a more intimate scale. Each of the blush-coloured, crinoline tutu shades is slightly different in shape, evoking a sense of ethereal movement.

Banquettes and stools upholstered in colourful leather, fringed lampshades, and an antique communal table sourced from England, further contribute to the contrasting universe of Café Constance, wrapped in the warm embrace of vivid and lively floral fabrics and wallpaper patterns. Rich materials including walnut, velvet, brass and natural greenery infuse touches of luxury and warmth into the bright and whimsical setting of a child-like fantasy.

“The tongue-in-cheek approach to Café Constance aimed at creating a fun and fantastical space within the more austere backdrop of the building’s contemporary architecture,” concludes Zébulon Perron. “That play on contrasts extends to the design within the space as well, with hints of Victorian elements and boudoir intimacy animated by intricate colours, patterns, and light fixtures.”

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[Images courtesy of Atelier Zébulon Perron. Photography by Alex Lesage.]