MDT mobilier's new limited budget café in montreal adopts a brutalist look

MDT mobilier unveils a multi-functional brutalist space

montreal-based furniture design and production studio MDT mobilier introduces its new brutalist café in canada, dubbed ‘osmo X marusan café’. the design team worked with a limited budget to result in a design that sees the transformation of a coffee place into a hybrid collective area that serves as a café, bar, boutique, and event space. nestled between two heritage buildings, its interior aesthetics are informed by the area’s brutalist style and historical details, adopting a rather minimalistic look.

all images by éliott légaré

a limited budget design

the resulting composition presents a versatile, sober space that adapts to the various needs. the design team at MDT mobilier formed the interior with a series of tailor-made clean-cut furniture to enhance the austerity of the space. as for the materiality, galvanized steel, brick, and polycarbonate were chosen to complete the interior. in response to the limited budget and the minimalist spirit of the modernist style, the materials were utilized almost unprocessed.

long, steel communal tables are placed at the core of the space, adding an industrial touch. its reflective quality is employed in surfaces, tables, counters, and fixtures, to further enliven the space. over time, this raw, delicate material will change and develop a patina adopting a slightly more matte look.

an austere yet welcoming atmosphere

the designers sought not to change the building’s structure, drawing out its existing intrinsic qualities. the large concrete ceiling with its almost otherworldly skylights was left untouched providing a unique semi-basement atmosphere. to reflect the exposed foundation of the adjacent historic building, the team formed a brick bench, running along the angular walls. following the same hue palette of the bricks, custom-made chairs are finished in a sandstone red powder coat.

meanwhile, to avoid wasting material, MDT mobilier maintained the existing base of the service counter and overlapped it with polycarbonate and dimmable LED strips. the final design invites visitors into an austere yet welcoming ambiance that can adjust to the clients’ requirements.