Huis Clos (which stands for “behind closed doors” in English) is also an expression used for scenarios where the action takes place in one single room. For this restaurant-bar located in Montreal’s Villeray neighbourhood, we wanted to express some kind of a raw, industrial, mechanical feeling to our design, like if we were wandering inside a submarine. Whether raw or powder coated, steel at the Huis Clos, plays a key role. With the ceilings reminiscent of turbulent waters seen from a low-angle shot, we took the challenge of conjuring up the sea from the inside. The reflective surfaces and the lamps also remind a nautical environment. The space, even though narrow and linear, was designed to create many subsections where people can discreetly gather. The mirrors contribute to splitting the area as if we could have a view to another room.
