Atelier L’Abri converts a former industrial site into FOIL Gallery in Montreal
FOIL Gallery occupies two units of a century-old industrial building in Montreal’s Mile-Ex district. Atelier L’Abri adapted the former factory spaces into a cultural venue that brings together contemporary art, hospitality, and neighbourhood life.
The project brings new life to a site once threatened by demolition, reinforcing its historical, architectural, and social value within a rapidly changing urban context.
Founded by artists Fvckrender (Frédéric Duquette) and Baeige (Jo-Anie Charland), FOIL Gallery operates as a space for expression and gathering, connecting art with daily life while making cultural programming accessible to the public.
The site is directly linked to Parc des Gorilles, a public park inaugurated in 2024 after a community-led effort reclaimed a section of land once occupied by Canadian Pacific Railway infrastructure. The diagonal cut left by the former tracks influenced the geometry of the park and became part of the identity of the surrounding block.
FOIL Gallery contributes to this transformation by integrating cultural programming into a space long defined by industrial activity, expanding the park’s civic dimension and reinforcing the role of heritage buildings as anchors of collective memory.
Originally constructed in the 1910s for Canadian Explosives Limited, the building served as an ammunition factory during the First World War and continued industrial operations through the Second World War. Its architecture features a distinctive sawtooth roof supported by clerestory timber trusses, set atop raw concrete beams and columns.
These elements define a spatial typology typical of early 20th-century manufacturing facilities in the Marconi-Alexandra sector, where women formed a significant portion of the wartime labour force. Neglected for decades, the complex narrowly escaped demolition amid development pressure, ultimately becoming a case study of adaptive reuse within Montreal’s evolving post-industrial landscape.
Atelier L’Abri approached the intervention through restoration, revalorization, and material precision. Sandblasting revealed the original wood ceilings, trusses, and concrete structure, returning material depth to elements once hidden beneath layers of paint.
The concrete slab floor was cleaned and sealed, preserving marks accumulated over a century of use. New skylights reactivated the sawtooth volume by drawing in natural light, restoring a condition historically associated with factory productivity but now repurposed for art display.
A brushed metal cube inserted at the centre of the plan organizes circulation and houses private functions without disrupting the legibility of the original envelope. White peripheral acoustic walls provide exhibition surfaces that contrast with the raw textures of floor and ceiling.
At the front, a luminous café opens to Parc des Gorilles through a glass garage door, featuring custom furniture by Raymond Raymond and microcement finishes that align with the gallery’s sober material palette. A projection room at the rear supports audiovisual programming and immersive events.
FOIL Gallery’s inaugural exhibition presented works by Fvckrender and Baeige alongside J3000, Vincent Tsang, Andrea Wilkin, Victor Mosquera, and Zoë Winters. A restored 1970 Porsche Targa positioned in the gallery contributes a sculptural presence that bridges art, design, and automotive heritage.
Sensory elements are integral to the spatial experience, including a soundscape by Olivier Lamontagne (The Holy), fragrance by D.S. & Durga, coffee by ZAB Café, and pastries by Mélilot. Beyond exhibitions, FOIL Gallery hosts screenings, launches, and AM:PLIFIED, a monthly program pairing DJs with morning service, reinforcing its identity as a cultural platform rooted in community life.
FOIL Gallery asserts itself as a new voice in Montreal’s cultural landscape, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can generate civic value while preserving material history and advancing contemporary artistic practice.
Photography by Alex Lesage, with courtesy of v2com
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