Contract - November/December 2011 - (Page 81)

ship shape Sid Lee Architecture transforms a 1950s-era ferry into a world-class spa in Montreal’s Old Port By Sheila Kim Photography by Sid Lee Architecture Luxurious staterooms. Dinner cruises. Barges-turnedmusic venues. It was only a matter of time before the spa would have its day on the water, too. In recent years spa boats have been popping up and pampering leisure enthusiasts in environments that offer the look and feel of a luxury liner, sans the hefty cost and actual travel. Bota Bota is one such floating resort, docked in Old Port, Montreal, and housed in a 1950s-era vessel that first served as a commuter ferry, then a floating performing arts center. It was adapted and redesigned into its current incarnation by Sid Lee Architecture. From a distance, Bota Bota almost melds into the surroundings with its black-painted steel panels and, upon approach, has an unmistakable industrial look. “We wanted to respect the site by creating a new identity that doesn’t move away from the fact that it’s a ship,” says Jean Pelland, a principal at Sid Lee Architecture. “We were looking at both the future and the past, marine inspiration, and the industrial side of nautical design.” Sid Lee Architecture devised oversized portholes constructed from rolled steel and covered in leatherette to act as introspection cocoons for clientele. The original 1950s ferry underwent transformations including additional floors, redesigned portholes, and a coat of black paint (right, from top to bottom). The bottom photo shows Bota Bota across the water from Habitat, designed by Moshe Safdie. www.contractdesign.com c ontract november/december 2011 81 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - November/December 2011

Contract - November/December 2011
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Product Briefs
Product Focus: Classic Touch
Product Focus: Generating Buzz(i)
Gelfand Partners Architects Office in San Francisco Designed by Gelfand Partners Architects
Sorg Architects Office in Washington, D.C. Designed by Sorg Architects
Sauerbruch Hutton Office in Berlin, Germany Designed by Sauerbruch Hutton
Roth Sheppard Architects Office in Denver Designed by Roth Sheppard Architects
AOL West Coast Headquarters in Palo Alto, California Designed by Studio O+A
Red Bull Canada Office Expansion in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Designed by Johnson Chou Inc.
Goods Shed North in Melbourne, Australia Designed by BVN Architecture
Bota Bota Spa in Montreal, Quebec, Canada Designed by Sid Lee Architecture
A’maree’s in Newport Beach, California Designed by Paul Davis Architects
2011 Contract Brand Report Awareness Survey
Sources
Designers Select: Building Products
Ad Index
Perspectives

Contract - November/December 2011