Our story has unfolded one project at a time, shaping an identity that is creative, curious, and bold.

When we started Projet Paysage a little over thirty years ago, we were sowing the first seeds of a lofty ambition: to create spaces for people that reveal the essential qualities of a setting. Over time, we have left our mark on a host of landscapes in Québec — ski resort, spas, urban parks, private backyards, LEED-certified neighbourhoods, public squares, university campuses, rooftop terraces. We have honed our expertise, along with our vision and our leadership. 

From day one, we have never stopped pushing the limits of our comfort zone. We encourage our clients and partners to do the same, ensuring that each mandate reaches its full potential. To that end, we have surrounded ourselves with talented professionals and creatives who are a pleasure to collaborate with. In the office, as in our projects, it’s the people who matter most and guide all our decisions. This journey began with the design of a pedestrian village at the Mont-Tremblant ski resort.

Gaining ground with a landmark recreational tourism project

Our adventure began when the recreational tourism sector was in full swing in Québec. For our firm, founded in 1992 by Christian Ducharme and Catherine Rioux, this experience set the stage for what came next. 
 

The mountain presented our first professional challenge, teaching us invaluable lessons. We focused on highlighting the breathtaking views, navigating the intricate landscape, and harnessing the natural sunlight. 

The resort’s success lies in showcasing the environment to create a year-round destination on a scale that remains unprecedented for the province.

We created a place where visitors from near and far would want to stay for a few days — for the activities (skiing, hiking, dining, accommodations, window shopping, live performances and more), but also for its unique ambiance. A light-filled public square is nestled among the terraces. Adirondack chairs offer the perfect vantage point for taking in the scenery. A cable car ride offers a breathtaking panorama over the entire vista. 

We centred our thinking on the user experience, making it a priority from the very beginning. Without knowing it, we were laying the foundations of our identity.

Serge and Maxime take the helm of the company

Tremblant kept us busy for several years. We also carried out other hotel and residential mandates that took us beyond our borders (Ontario, New Jersey, and the French Alps). Today, as Design Director, Gianna Cabanas recalls this period that shaped her vision of the profession. She joined the team in 2001, where she developed the masterful planning skills that remain central to her work today.

When Serge Gallant and Maxime Brisebois joined Projet Paysage in 2010, we were in the midst of a boom in the real estate sector. Serge was enlisted to work on the exterior design of Myst sur le Canal, two condo towers that were part of upgrading the Lachine Canal. Maxime, for his part, was involved in the ambitious Pointe-Nord neighbourhood on Nuns’ Island, to create an idyllic way of life that combined the beauty of the St. Lawrence with sustainability.

Approximately two decades after the company was founded, it was time for the next generation to take over. Experienced and looking for challenges, Serge and Maxime were tapped to take the reins.

In 2014, they were named principals, as Catherine sailed off to new horizons. Christian continued to lend a hand as co-principal, but took a step back. ​“Christian really gave us a lot of freedom,” acknowledges Serge. ​“We appreciated it, because we wanted to start off on a solid foundation and add our personal touch.”

In 2022, the two team members became full owners of the company.


Maxime Brisebois

“I sincerely believed in the potential of Projet Paysage. The projects were fun and I knew that Serge and I were a great duo. I knew we had what it took to make an even greater mark in the field.” 

Gianna leveraged her vast experience to serve as a mentor and help to transmit the DNA of Projet Paysage, making her a true pillar of the organization. 

Grand ideas

Serge and Maxime’s belief in Projet Paysage’s potential was behind their drive to expand the firm’s field of expertise. We set our sights on large-scale projects in the institutional and municipal sectors.

Our diversification began with projects such as the one in Pointe-Nord. This real estate development included a park, public square, multiuse paths, and green spaces. It sparked our interest and opened the doors to major opportunities in the public sector, such as the Iona-Monahan Square. Our reputation was further solidified when we won awards for Rosemont Park, André-Lachapelle Square, and the Ruisseau de Feu Conservation Park, to name a few.

Our institutional achievements include the MIL campus of the Université de Montréal and the two Collège Charles-Lemoyne campuses. We are managing more and more highly complex mandates, such as the masterplan for Polytechnique Montréal. 

Our constant concern for the user experience is foundational to our approach, influencing the well-being of individuals and reimagining tourism on the scale of everyday life. ​“My favourite thing,” summarizes Gianna, ​“is when we design a project and we see people taking ownership of it. That’s when we know we did a good job.” In our hands, each place becomes a destination in its own right. 
 

Our sensitivity and boldness resonate powerfully with communities. 

Finding balance and repositioning ourselves

Each of our achievements is rooted in the invaluable support of our team members. Dreaming big requires the right people around us and constantly adjusting our methods. Serge and Maxime realized that the influx of new mandates was creating a frenetic pace that was undermining the group. This situation was accentuated by the circumstances of 2020 and 2021. 

We became more mature. We reassessed our priorities with greater clarity. To shine externally, we had to first shine internally, without ever losing sight of well-being and striving for a more sustainable and balanced approach. ​“We gradually came to understand that we couldn’t do it all,” says Maxime. We needed to recruit key talent to enrich our organization.” 

In 2021, the pair turned to a human resources consultant. The internal structure was clarified, management and project leader positions were created, and the family grew considerably. 

In 2024, we redefined our vision, values, and mission to better align our actions. We hired a marketing and communications specialist to help share the passion and energy driving our initiatives. Our brand identity, showcased in a new website, reflects our past and the direction we have set ourselves for the future. 

We marked this exciting new chapter with a launch party at L’Idéal wine bar, surrounded by our peers, partners, and loved ones. It was the first event of its kind in Projet Paysage’s history. Together, we celebrated our journey and embraced our DNA, now clearer than ever.

Serge Gallant

“Ten years later, when I see everything we have accomplished, I am very proud. We have diversified our niches and consolidated the direction of the firm on solid foundations.” 

Putting people at the heart of our culture

One fundamental priority lies behind our productivity and big ideas: providing a workspace where individuals can excel, enjoy themselves, and feel valued. 

We renovated our offices to cultivate an environment that fosters both warmth and creativity. The design from Blanchette archi.design brings us together. The view of Mont-Royal is magnified, natural light abounds, vegetation creates more intimate spaces, and a large open area encourages gatherings.

Our passions for urban development, botany, architecture, and more, both intersect with and complement one another. We honour our differences, as they help us think outside the box. If Maxime throws out a ​“what if” followed by a far-fetched idea in a meeting, it’s not unusual for the ensuing discussions to culminate in an absolutely exhilarating concept.

Together, we can accomplish anything. But we never forget to have fun. Our agenda is punctuated with celebratory happy hours, gourmet meals, dragon boat races, and enriching workshops that strengthen our bonds beyond our day-to-day responsibilities. We cultivate the pleasure of sharing our time with colleagues who make us love our work even more.

Our mission finds its true purpose in the emphasis we place on people and sustainability, whether through our designs or our relationships. We bring to life human-centered everyday experiences that honor our need for meaningful connections with the environment and communities. More than thirty years after our first steps, the adventure continues. We move forward without pretence, but with conviction, our core values serving as our compass. As a team, we set ourselves the challenge of constantly learning and improving to ensure this adventure is unforgettable.