Yabu Pushelberg's Design for Canada Olympic House in Rio

Yabu Pushelberg’s Design for Canada Olympic House in Rio

August 16, 2016

Ontario natives George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg are mostly known for their luxury hotel, residential, and commercial interiors like the Four Seasons Toronto and Park Hyatt New York. Now, Yabu Pushelberg presents their latest project for Olympic Games Rio 2016, The Canada Olympic House, which is the best place to stay for Canadian Olympians and their friends and family in Rio.

The amazing home base for Canadian Olympians and fans has hundreds of ribbons dangle from the ceiling to create a Canadian flag with a graphic edge.

Each room has distinctly designed from the residence’s Welcome Hall to the Celebration Lounge and Samsung Honor Library. Simple materials have been used like exposed-edge plywood, metal, and soft textiles give the space an honest sophistication and graphic nature.

“Instead of being as commercial as some other houses are, we wanted to, of course, work with the sponsors, but also do things that were artistic, edgy, innovative, and still exude that Canadian easiness, comfort, and realness that we’re all about,” Yabu explained.

They designed the project as an exhibition installation of sorts, incorporating digital printing, sculpture, art, lighting, and bold graphic design to capture the clearness and honest integrity of Canadian lifestyle and create a sense of calmness and warmth.

Furnishings of this house is provided by Canadian Tire, Saint-Damase Furniture, and Quality & Company are reconfigurable pieces that allow residents to truly make the quarters their own.

Pushelberg says also: “Pierre Trudeau was the prime minister, and Canada was cool at the time; it was a cool, hip, forward-thinking place to be. It’s interesting how time goes on and all of a sudden his son is now the prime minister of Canada and has this very positive, progressive outlook about the world and Canada’s position in it. This is a great potential time for design in Canada again.”