As ambassadors of Montreal's artistic vitality from the very beginning, Les 7 doigts de la main chose to set up shop in the former Musée Juste Pour Rire building because they are convinced that they are capable of personalizing this place, reviving it and reinventing it. For Les 7 doigts, the development of the Quartier des spectacles' signature and the influence beyond the city's borders that such a location confers are part of the building's assets.
Since their founding, Les 7 doigts de la main have been able to reconcile the ambition to realize the dreams of their founders with the modest means available to any young company. Budgetary, physical and temporal limits have stimulated and generated innovation and creation. These same limits have become obstacles. To maintain and develop its presence on the markets, to ensure its growth, to increase its influence, to face competition and to launch new projects, the company is entering a new stage of its development. As soon as possible, the company must bring together all its artistic, administrative and production activities under one roof. This creation and production center will allow the realization of shows, facilitate the maintenance of their quality, and serve as a daily training center for its artists. In addition, it will encourage the exploration of new forms and content. More specifically, Les 7 doigts de la main want:
- To have an adequate, autonomous and available space, corresponding to the specific needs of circus activities of training, maintenance, creation and production, artistic research and development, exploration of new contents and new forms;
- To bring together under one roof all of the components of the 7 doigts (artistic, administrative, production and technical) by facilitating and promoting constant meetings and exchanges between these components, thus increasing the efficiency of the collective;
- To reduce the costs (and wasted time) of services and expenses necessary for administration, creation and production, by rationalizing and optimizing all resources;
- To welcome in residence creators and performers associated with the 7 doigts de la main, in creation and production;
- To increase in qualitative and quantitative terms the means to make the operation more efficient in all its aspects;
- To ensure a sustainable development for the collective and its members by taking into account the difficulties and risks inherent to the practice of circus arts;
- To make possible a greater synergy between the different departments and services of the company through daily contact with creation and production and those who are involved;
- To ensure the continuity of the founding artists.
(From competition's documentation)
(Unofficial automated translation)
The jury emphasizes that the finalists have invested a great deal of effort in the preparation of their applications. Their conceptual approaches reflect the identity of Les 7 doigts de la main and demonstrate great creativity through a holistic approach. Their previous projects show undeniable creative strength and relevant experience in industrial building recycling and circus building. They are respectful of the existing building and its history, they have the capacity and the interest to realize a project in sustainable development and seem concerned and strategic to manage to respect the budget. The organization of the work proposed by the finalists demonstrates a real willingness to work closely with Les 7 doigts de la main in order to form a stimulating and creative project team.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
| Jury | Isabelle Chassé, Codirectrice artistique |
| | Pierre Corriveau, Architecte |
| | François Dépelteau, Ingénieur |
| | Nassib El-Husseini, Directeur général |
| | Marianne Maisonneuve, Stagiaire en architecture |
| | Ron Rayside, Architecte |
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| Technical Commitee | Jan Rok Achard |
| | Carlos Benavides |
| | Gunther Conard |
| | Mohammed Fares |
| | Richard Gagnon |
| | Lynne Ter Metz |
| | Yves Touchette |
| | Christian Zarka |
Retention of a professional advisor: 2014-02-07
Follow-up of the architectural competition: 2014-07-02
Study of proposals in technical committee: 2014-06-26
Selection of a winner: 2014-07-17
(From competition's documentation)
(Unofficial automated translation)
Dévoilement lauréat concours d’architecture – Nouvelles | Les 7 Doigts
Voirvert, Concours d’architecture pour les 7 doigts de la main, Voir vert - Le portail du bâtiment durable au Québec
Montréal : les empreintes de pouce du collectif circassien "Les 7 doigts de la Main", 2015
Constructo, Portail, Les 7 doigts de la main annoncent le lauréat de son concours d'architecture
Communications, Ministère de la Culture et des, Actualités, 2010
macarignan, Cirque et architecture dans le QDS, Journal Métro, 2015
- Programme
- Rapport du jury (global)
