An eye-catching assemblage of art, whimsy, and pink welcomes guests to the 169-room Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, marking the return of the brand to the city after a two-decade absence. “The brief aimed for the unconventional,” says Dana Kalczak, Four Seasons’ vice president of design, who worked with a team including local architecture firms Lemay and Sid Lee Architecture. “In a city of art lovers and comedy festivals, we wanted an exceptional and provocative art collection that had hints of humor through subject matter, scale, or placement.”
Blush tones—beginning with a single marble cube and continuing to the reception area’s walls before extending to guestroom accent pieces—are another one of the surprising threads that link the property. Kalczak credits that choice to Dorothée Boissier, principal of Paris-based Gilles & Boissier, the firm (in collaboration with locally based Philip Hazan Design) responsible for the entrance lobby, reception area, event spaces, spa, and guestrooms. “Unlike most, Dorothée believes that pink is both feminine and masculine,” she says. “It’s romantic, and the perfect inspiration for this sexy hotel.”
The street-level lobby flaunts a collection of marble cubes
In the sprawling lounge, however, Montreal-based Atelier Zébulon Perron opted for a watery palette of gray, blue, and green shown in crushed velvet upholstery. “We used prismatic glass walls and mirrors that keep the place happy during the day but add glamour at night,” says principal Zébulon Perron. The studio also designed the airy brasserie, Marcus, the first Canadian outpost for celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. It adeptly blends classic touches with contemporary details, culminating in a plant-filled covered terrace bar.
The casual dining vibe might be the final surprise for a Four Seasons 2.0 property. “We wanted the lounge and restaurant level to be an active social hub where guests can engage in convivial conversations and feel comfortable sharing a laugh with a perfect stranger,” says Kalczak. ‘Whether alone or in a group, they want to be part of the action.”
The façade of the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
Various shades of pink dress the lobby
The indoor-outdoor Marcus raw bar is dotted with plants
A banquette snakes through Marcus restaurant
The blush-hued social square bathroom
A heated pool located within the hotel’s spa
The rooms offer expansive views of downtown Montreal
