Montreal-based furniture manufacturer featuring future-forward designs from the brother/sister team of Thien Ta Trung and My Ta Trung. Reasonably priced sofas, chairs and tables that rival established European makers in quality and sophistication.

DESIGNERS: Thien Ta Trung, My Ta Trung

A 19th century former carpet factory in Montreal's old city is converted into a minimalist boutique hotel with just 30 rooms. The rooms have a "loft feel" with polished concrete floors, cast iron columns, exposed brickwork and the requisite open concept. Modern decor with modern amenities including flat screen TVs and high-speed Internet access.

Modern contemporary design store in Old Montreal close to Hotel St-Paul (the hotel is on the left above). Lines include LucePlan and Ingo Maurer lighting, Capellini, Molteni and Zanotta furniture.

YH2 Architecture's A l'ombre de Paris is a duplex built on a rare Plateau vacant lot facing the seven-story Paris Glove building. The Paris structure blocks the sunlight for a good part of the day (donc, a l'ombre...). The solution was to focus inwards; a central tower lets light in from generous rooftop windows. A narrow inner courtyard provides access to the outside. YH2 have built and renovated a number of inner city homes as well as the sublime boutique Hotel Gault.

ARCHITECTS: Marie-Claude Hamelin, Loukas Yiacouvakis

For those of you who know mocoloco.com, you know that I'm loco for Modern Contemporary design. I'm also a firm believer that the Internet is actually very local and little global, so this is a first attempt (or maybe the last), to create local MoCo. ;)

So what really prompted this new effort? For one, it doesn't exist and I wanted to see one. As with mocoloco.com, I feel that demand for this kind of directory exists. Judging by the enthusiastic response I've received for MoCo Loco, I was right... for a small but growing group of readers. BTW, if you're one of them, thank you for your patronage!

Montreal is at the crossroads of Europe and North America both geographically and culturally. It's a vibrant city with a rich multicultural heritage. It also home for some outstanding designers and architects. MoCo Montreal was created to document Montreal MoCo in all its forms, be it the architects or designers themselves or the work they've created. MCM will hopefully capture the people and places and serve as a guide for those who live in the city and those who just visit.

And yes, if it works, there are other cities on the radar.

Windows and doors are often pivotal when trying to acheive a MoCo look for a new house or renovation. But who makes the "architectural/design" windows and doors? There aren't that many manufacturers, but one of the better ones, Alumilex, is located in Montreal North. The showroom has a wide range of types, mostly modern, made of aluminum and some wood, all of it custom made.

The architect-designers of Build Inc. are specialists of the inner city urban infill. Balancing innovative design and economy of building, they've succeeded in creating several homes that address the historical context of their neighborhoods, the demands of pragmatic urban planning by-laws, all within a contemporary sensibility. Typical of their "vertical loft" concept, this is Box House which is "quite simply a box with metal appendages". The ultimate infill, it was built in the middle of an alley.

ARCHITECTS: Danita Rooyakkers, Michael Carroll and Attila Tolnai

Montreal-based contemporary furniture manufacturer Colexion Perez has an impressive showroom just a few minutes from downtown beside the Lachine canal. They've also just launched Ubiq, a slightly more modern line of sofas, armchairs, ottomans and beds. Aimed at a younger market, Ubiq features design elements usually found in high end Italian modern design - classic clean lines, molded foam cushions, metal frames and a wide range of fabrics from Europe.

DESIGNER: Daniel Perez

New furniture editeur Fridgeland is an avant-garde furniture and object design publisher. The founders are looking for more designers to publish, to, in their words, develop projects from prototype to display in stores. From the "I'm a gambler" collection this table is "X" and is made from laminated plywood.

DESIGNERS: Regine Lafata, Rene-Luc Desjardins