Lobby of Hotel Gault

Gold Certification
Grands Prix du Design 2025

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Revisiting a project 20 years later is a rare privilege for an architect. Yet this is precisely what happened with the Gault Hotel, Montreal's first boutique hotel, designed by the architectural firm yh2.

First designed in 2002, the lobby now needed to be modernized to meet current needs without erasing the soul of the place that had been created.

The founding idea behind its first transformation was to integrate contemporary, minimalist architecture into a heritage building.

Two decades later, the lobby's identity had faded. The wear and tear of time and successive changes had erased the project's striking features. This second intervention therefore aimed to rediscover the essence of the place by focusing on architectural continuity.

The material, already central to the initial project, takes on a new dimension here. The vestibule is now clad in a curved solid mahogany vaulted ceiling, echoing the arches of the existing windows. This marks the transition between the bustling street and the hotel's hushed interior. On the floor, the old concrete screed has been replaced by a new pattern composed of mosaic, stone, and ceramic. Its curves echo the arches of the building and soften the rigorous lines of the architecture.

Lighting plays a central role in restoring the lobby's unique atmosphere. Indirect lighting highlights key elements such as the arches, metal coffered ceiling, and textures. At the heart of the space is a translucent glass box housing the bar and service desk, a veritable lantern diffusing soft light in all directions.

Much more than an aesthetic renovation, this metamorphosis is a statement of intent: the Gault Hotel reaffirms its commitment to its guests by offering them a refined setting from the moment they arrive. The lobby becomes a signature, that of an establishment that combines local design, discreet luxury, and personalized service, while retaining its unique character in the Montreal hotel landscape.

This renovation project pursues a quest for longevity and architectural consistency. In an era marked by overconsumption and obsolescence, it offers a reasoned response.

It extends the dialogue between architectures from different periods, drawing on local expertise, highlighting the materials, and revaluing what already exists.