The son of a jazz pianist and a “New Age” psychotherapist, this Canadian grew up in the trendy district of Mile End, where his architectural practice is now located. Passionate about urban planning and human interactions, Zébulon Perron is one of the key personalities of Montreal, a city he never considered leaving.
How do you view Montreal?
Zebulon Perron: It’s a funny town because it doesn’t reveal its charms quickly. But once we discover them, we adopt them. Life is easy there. This is the very idea of the city on a human scale by architect-urban planner Jan Gehl. There are parks. You can easily walk and cycle. To raise a child is fantastic. Furthermore, the economic depression of the 1980s attracted many young creative people. This generated a proliferation in music, the visual arts… It is an important cultural legacy. Bilingualism is also of great interest. It is no exaggeration to say that Montreal is the most European city in North America. And then there are bagels (laughs).
You are rethinking bar and restaurant spaces with the desire to promote exchanges. What is your approach?
In our culture, bars and restaurants are the places where people meet. I start from the principle that human beings have a fundamental need to coexist in the public space with strangers. However, the articulation of spaces conditions encounters. I was strongly influenced by Europe, with its public squares, its local cafés, its bistros… all these places where people gather. This was lacking in Montreal. The ambition of our projects is to create opportunities – within bars, restaurants, etc. – so that people can exchange. One of the first places where I was able to shape this idea was La Buvette chez Simone, in 2008: it has become the living room of Mile End, an interesting neighborhood because it is very diverse, which is rapidly gentrifying. It was a big success.
“From now on, Montreal is positioning itself as a city where you eat well”
How is the gastronomic offer developing?
In the last twenty years, it has evolved in a dazzling way. From now on, Montreal is positioning itself as a city where you eat well. Wine bars have exploded there. The design evolved along with it. This trend is also evident in more high-profile projects, such as the Marcus Samuelsson restaurant that we have fitted out at the Four Seasons Hotel. The major hotel chains have understood the need to attract local customers as well. We have thus designed spaces for all times of the day, with the desire to energize the social function of the place. It is one of the most profitable projects in the Samuelssson Group portfolio. I’m quite proud of it, because it validates our approach.
Beyond the restoration, you are also working on a major public project…
We are collaborating more and more with the city of Montreal and we have just won an architectural competition with Pelletier de Fontenay Architectes, Architecture49 and CIMA +, for the construction of the Sanaaq Centre. It is a 5,000 square meter project, including a library, a performance hall, exhibition halls, a café… It is an exhilarating community ensemble, which will take advantage of our desire to serve the greatest number. The city is being built: there are still many things to do.