Saucier + Perrotte architectes

Photos: Jean Lompré

Located on St-Joseph Street facing the Church of St-Roch, the new Philippe Dubuc store marks the arrival of the renowned fashion label to old Quebec City. The boutique is housed in a simple, linear space at the ground level of an existing historic building. The space itself is intersected by a large steel truss that recalls the massive structural elements from industrial times in Quebec. The design concept plays with a shift in perception between the actual dimensions of the boutique and those of a virtual space perceived by clients and visitors — a ‘space’ relating to both the larger structure of the building and to the peculiar mirrored quality of the interior.

At first glance visitors will notice a strip of black at the left that splits the store along its length, breaking the symmetry and defining the bright central space. While this dark band is used functionally to contain shelving and the main counter, reflective surfaces are carefully oriented along the line of demarcation between the dark and light zones to blur the limits of the overall space. At the far end of the store, a mise en abîme ’is created by two parallel mirrors, producing an endless imaginary perspective perpendicular to the main axis. This cruciform scheme, reinforced by the linear lighting fixtures, reminds us symbolically of the proximity of the place of worship.

The sober and seemingly ‘undressed’ space looks more like Philippe Dubuc’s workshop than a usual retail store. The monochromatic palette harmonizes with the designer’s creations; furthermore, the dust grey painted walls, polished concrete floors and minimal racks all relate to the industrial character of the site.