In the wake of the conceptual approach proposed at the service offering stage, the library project we propose here draws a bridge between two eras, between two urbanities: the one that is ours, characterized among other things by globalization, the proliferation of electronic exchange platforms, fake news that nevertheless have the appearance of truth, and the birth of object printers (some of which, by the way, are even beginning to print cookies and pastries) and where reality and fiction rub shoulders and intermingle almost daily and, this other era, that of the fictional city that was Cité de Maisonneuve, a "grandiose and magnificent industrial city" that existed in a fragmentary way and of which the current library building is a concrete and important example.
From the classical figure of the street to the building-street
One of our first observations of the drawings and realizations born from the urbanistic movement of the City Beautiful was the particular and careful attention given to the classical figure of the street. Wide, calm and peaceful, it was often characterized by a composition in three or four parts, consisting of sidewalks, landscaped strips, the streets themselves, and a central median, sometimes also vegetated and wide enough to be inhabited and constitute a linear public space. This was the case, for example, on Morgan Boulevard or Pie-IX Street at its origins. Each street identified as having a particular importance incorporated a sort of linear park and supported a public space for socialization. Far from being as calm and peaceful as in the period drawings, the vast majority of today's streets do not have or no longer have these lateral or central landscaped strips that make them public spaces, except perhaps when we walk along an urban park such as La Fontaine Park, for example. In such a moment of urbanity, who doesn't choose, instead of walking on the sidewalk, to take the path that, inside the park, follows this same sidewalk between two rows of trees? The "alternative path" is not longer, but it is certainly more pleasant. By slowing down the pace, it also provides a feeling of relaxation and openness that the city sometimes deprives us of when we are too busy moving from one place to another.
It is precisely this feeling, this natural choice that seems to be obvious, that we are banking on to propose the insertion of a pedestrian and landscaped avenue between Ontario Street and the heritage building. In the tradition of the City Beautiful, we propose to reinsert a linear and landscaped public space, lined with a row of trees, and which offers itself as an "alternative path", where the person who decides to use it will not only find a calmer walk, but will also be tempted to seize the offers that are presented to him or her: relaxation areas, benches, Adirondack chairs, activities and events programmed in connection with the library, in short a whole range of possibilities hung on a pedestrian avenue that invites to slow down and to discover. By taking the space available in front of the building, once formal and causing a desired distancing of the visitor, and transforming it into a linear public space, the latter is now in a position of proximity with the building since a first barrier has been removed. The creation of this more intimate relationship with the existing building is part of our more general strategy of renewal and enhancement of the heritage.
This figure of the street is also continued within the library itself, as the extension itself, in order to support this new public avenue, spreads out on both sides of the heritage building in two compact and almost identical volumes, creating a linear composition. With its main entrance on the Desjardins Street side in a slightly more assertive volume offering a signaling and protective overhang, the visitor, once inside the building, crosses the layers of social spaces and thus frequents a new interior street. Thus placed at the center of the composition, housing the reception desk and the attractive piano nobile spaces, the heritage building becomes part of all the library's experiences. This way of embracing the existing building with simple, asymmetrical glass volumes that are lower than the original building is a second milestone in our heritage approach that relies on both complementarity and contrast. It should also be noted that this glass envelope, with its bronze and bluish reflections, is not a simple and banal curtain wall envelope. It incorporates within its thickness a system of perforated, embossed and cut metallic panels that not only repeat familiar patterns and lines of the overall composition - like a new narrative or fiction - but above all modulate the quality of natural light that makes its way into the social, discovery and creative areas of the library.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
- The dialogue between the heritage building and the proposed new construction is described as austere. The jury sees three buildings that stand side by side without entering into a real dialogue.
- The projection of the volume to the east produces an effect of embedding the heritage building and is detrimental to its enhancement.
- The proposed intervention as a whole does not seem appropriate to the scale of the site.
- It is understood that this is a municipal complex, but the architectural treatment suggests uses other than that of a library, especially with the presence of administrative offices on the ground floor at the corner of Ontario Street and Pie-IX Boulevard. The jury disagrees with this choice of use at the curb, which does not reveal the real function of the building and which may not encourage passers-by to enter the premises.
- Despite the presence of a substantial overhang, the formal entrance to the library is confusing. With the three separate volumes, one expects three separate entrances. The invitation to enter in the center towards the heritage building remains present.
- We appreciate the possibilities offered by the development of a side alley on the site. On the other hand, the proposal leaves little green space that can be appropriated and used. Most of the interesting trees on the site have been removed.
- There are concerns about the negative impacts of the shading created by the large volume to the east on the public square (Desjardins Street).
- The quality of the interior design is recognized and there is a good understanding of the functionality of a new library.
- The lobby is pleasant and bright.
- The views from the reading room are exceptional.
- The choice to place the power wall in a staircase, making it universally inaccessible, raises questions.
- The book management and pathways seem complex and do not convince the jury that these aspects work well.
- The basement section for children presents a space isolated by the stairwell and undesirable in this context.
- The performance of the thermal envelope presented is appreciated but its complexity leaves the jury perplexed as to the budget.
- The reasons expressed for the choice to drill significant holes in the floors of the existing building are puzzling to the jury.
- The proposed lighting concept gives a "plastic" atmosphere and there is concern about the impact on the exterior perception of the premises at night.
- Sustainability expectations were met by demonstrating the achievement of the LEED Silver certification objective.
- The demonstration of respect for the budget was confirmed by the finalist, but following the analysis by the technical committee, certain elements will have to be followed carefully to ensure that the budget is respected until the end of the construction work.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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