Burdifilek has designed the Montreal Flagship store for the high-end outerwear brand Mackage. The new flagship brings the brand's distinctive urban ski chalet concept to a historic building in the heart of downtown Montreal. Located in the city's legendary Saint Catherine street, the store forms part of a wider retail revitalization for the street, injecting new brands and energy into the longtime retail hub.
Seeking to protect the heritage building's architectural framework, original elements were retained and revitalized with contemporary details. Existing historic stonework and exposed structural beams were set against Nero Marquina marble herringbone floor and lightly wire-brushed oak plank to create a beautiful backdrop for products to shine.
To instill a sense of intimacy within the large volume of space, the new store is designed around the principle of compartmentalization. The space transforms into a gallery for the brand collection, with large windows showcasing a series of boxed vignettes punctuating the space, set at differing heights to play with scale and create visual interest.
Stepping inside each vignette to shop collections creates an intimate, cocoon effect for shoppers; enhanced by the warmth of the finish palette, the store provides an escape from the outside world, reminiscent of a modern ski chalet.
Throughout the store, splashes of white Statuario and black Nero Marquina marbles, oversized mirrors, and brushed bronze and dark metals add further sophistication to the palette.
Purposefully manicured compositions grace the neutral space, complemented by rich hues within the striking photograph of a flipped iceberg by Alex Cornell. These custom graphics, showcased at the entrance and in several other spaces throughout the store, are a testament to nature's stunning beauty, reflecting the brand's soaring visionary spirit and contemporary chalet concept.
Photography: Ben Rahn