Cardigan, a dynamic Montreal digital advertising agency founded in 2016, transformed a century-old stone building in Rosemont into their new headquarters–with a budget of CA$ 1.1M (HK$ 6.3M).

Originally built as a bank in 1907 and later used as a religious establishment, the two-storey building presented unique design challenges for Ivy Studio, the firm behind the renovation.

The main obstacle was dramatically different ceiling heights between floors. While the ground floor boasts generous 16.5-foot ceilings, the windowless basement measures only seven feet high. To maximize natural light, all workstations were placed on the bright ground floor, with support spaces relegated to the basement.

A mezzanine was added to one corner of the ground floor, avoiding the grand arched windows while creating intimate workspaces above and meeting rooms below. The structure features perforated steel mesh that provides privacy while allowing light to filter through.

The design philosophy differs dramatically between levels. The ground floor maintains its classical character with white paint, preserved moldings, and natural oak flooring. In contrast, the basement embraces a futuristic aesthetic with bold baby blue and orange color schemes, artificial materials, and reflective surfaces to brighten the compact space.

Two staircases, one original wooden, one modern curved, connect the floors, painted navy blue to unite the contrasting styles while reflecting Cardigan's professional yet playful company culture.

Photo courtesy of Alex Lesage