Actuality¹⁶²

Zoé Burns-Garcia, designer of responsible and vibrant spaces

DURABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Par

Marie Pelletier

JCCM - Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal

A well-designed space can support, accompany, and sometimes even transform the daily lives of its occupants.

Today, we shine a spotlight onZoé Burns-Garcia, founder of Burns Garcia Studio, who stands out for her committed vision, where eco-design and collaboration play a central role.

For her, designing a space means above all taking care of the people who will use it, understanding the impact of our choices, and imagining environments that can evolve with those who will use them.

It is by following this strong guiding principle that she offers solutions that are both original and adapted to the use of these spaces.

An approach focused on people and their aspirations

Zoé Burns-Garcia's signature style lies in her constant desire to design environments that take into account not only functional needs, but also the hopes and habits of the people who will use these spaces.

Her approach is based on listening, collaboration, and analyzing user needs. This attention to people, their needs, their dreams, and their pace is one of the pillars of Burns Garcia Studio and is also what sets her apart in her field.

In her view, design should not be perceived as a luxury:

“A well-designed space is a fundamental need, and everyone should have access to it.”

A demanding and committed eco-design approach

The studio is committed to a genuine eco-design approach.

“I like to use the word ‘approach’ because it's a long, complex process that requires a lot of learning. I approach it with humility: there are so many details to master, whether it's the materials themselves, their finishes, their origin, or even the impact of each choice on the environment and the community.”

Although these issues have interested Zoé since the very beginning of her career, a year ago she decided to train in eco-design to take this approach even further. For her, eco-design is not a trend, but a professional responsibility that goes beyond the material dimension.

Her practice includes collaborating with local artisans, social integration companies, and social or circular economy organizations. She emphasizes the importance of supporting these actors (cooperatives, non-profits, or reintegration organizations), whose strengthening facilitates the long-term integration of reclaimed materials into projects.

Reuse also plays an important role in her work. She mentions a project in which an antique door and window were incorporated into an office design, transforming a storage room into a meeting room, a gesture that illustrates her desire to divert materials from landfill while promoting unique elements with a history.

She believes that when we think about how to facilitate the circulation or integration of reused materials, we are helping to build ecosystems that promote more sustainable and socially responsible practices.

She firmly believes that designers have an essential role to play in transforming practices, particularly by proposing innovative systems, processes, and modes of collaboration.

Designing “The JCCM House”: a colorful mandate that reflects identity

Over the past year, Zoé Burns-Garcia has collaborated with the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal to design what its executive director, Sarah Kemerer, called La Maison de la JCCM. The goal was to create a welcoming, representative, multifunctional space capable of hosting a wide variety of events and training sessions.

For this project, where color quickly became a central element, she designed the layout and developed signature furniture.

She emphasizes that she appreciated the freedom she was given to create a refreshing, vibrant, and dynamic space that reflects the JCCM's identity, characterized by its young, committed, and action-oriented community.

Although the project is progressing in phases depending on the funding obtained, it is coming along well, and she hopes to see the final result by the end of 2026.

To learn more

In addition to her corporate design activities, Zoé has just launched a brand new residential consulting service. To learn more about this, 👉 https://burnsgarciastudio.com/...