Long before the first was presented, St. Lawrence Market North was already buzzing: Architects greeted former colleagues, manufacturers caught up with longtime collaborators and finalists scanned the room for familiar faces. For one evening, the newly completed civic landmark traded its everyday role for something more festive, hosting hundreds of members of the architecture and design community as they celebrated the year’s most compelling projects, products and ideas at the AZ Awards 2026 gala.
For many attendees, the evening had begun earlier at , a four-storey space — designed by Danny Chartier, Creative Director at Montauk Sofa and Joseph Miller from Cohlmeyer Architecture — that feels less like a traditional retail destination than it does a chic urban loft. Against a backdrop of limewashed walls, warm wood floors and abundant natural light, visitors moved between levels showcasing the work of both emerging and established Canadian designers. Conversations unfolded over cocktails and light bites, eventually spilling onto the rooftop terrace, where views across the city provided a fitting backdrop for a warm summer evening.
That spirit of connection carried over to St. Lawrence Market North, where Montauk hosted a series of gathering spaces throughout the venue. From the moment guests arrived to the final celebrations of the night, the vignettes provided settings for colleagues to reconnect and new relationships to form. Showcasing a selection of handsome furnishings, the pieces reflected the same commitment to materiality and craftsmanship celebrated throughout the evening.
The experience started from the moment guests arrived, with two framing a memorable photo op at the entrance. Upholstered in a richly patterned floral fabric that seemed plucked from a Monet or Klimt painting, the pair of generously scaled seats introduced colour, texture and a sense of occasion to the venue.
Elsewhere, a second lounge setting brought a distinctly different energy to the function. Cozied up next to the DJ booth, another pair of upholstered in a fuzzy brick-coloured textile brought warmth and tactility to the space, their rich hue recalling the intimate atmosphere of a ’70s listening lounge. As guests drifted toward the dance floor after the ceremony, the vignette became a natural place to pause, connect and take in the music.
At the heart of the venue, opposite a striking edible display by Forno Cultura, Montauk’s largest installation served as a central hub. Bringing together contrasting forms and material expressions, the arrangement paired the clean-lined in leather with a second modular design, , distinguished by a softer, more sculptural silhouette.
A series of upholstered in a muted botanical textile completed the composition, introducing a subtle palette that evoked the first signs of spring. Together, the arrangement imbued the soaring civic interior with a distinctly residential sensibility, creating a living room of sorts that encouraged guests to settle in. The thoughtfully curated environments served as a reminder that great design is as much about creating places for community as it is about the objects that inhabit them.
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