Building on the notion of duality and convergence, the avenue is reinvented to reveal its multiple facets. The folding and cutting of the ground express the emergence of a topographic modulation with clear divisions, giving rhythm to the scenic routes of ascent and descent between Mount Royal and downtown. The north-south avenue is punctuated by a language and organization that magnifies its east-west dimension, offering a series of sub-spaces that are both coherent and differentiated.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES :
6 ascents descents topographic
5 moments
1 living tableau
6 ascensions topographic descensions
The ground is worked to reveal all its dimensions and full potential by a system of modulations presenting two complementary sides Ville Montagne. The three-dimensional play supports a diversity of appropriations and ambiences by a coherent and flexible formal system, applied to the whole site. A linking element between the river and the mountain, the avenue proposes a series of urban and landscape experiences in six sequences that follow one another and punctuate the routes linking the McGill University campus to Place Ville-Marie, straddling the transverse streets beyond the site's own limits.
Strongly structured around the system of blades to which all the urban furniture is attached, the proposed framework creates an evolving scenographic context in which users can engage at different scales. Moving from micro-spaces to larger clearings, according to six sequences with different rhythms, the proposed experiences are linked to the context and to the adjacent buildings by adapting to the buildings' entrances and to the site's specific uses.
1. The campus: extending beyond the intervention site, this place engages the identity and users of the McGill University campus through the expression of the "learning city". The green space allows for the contemplation of nature and the occasional gathering of students. The design supports political engagement through a ceremonial threshold in a rich landscape.
2. The wooded area: inserted between the placottoir and the agora, this green space highlights a lush and enveloping vegetation that echoes the mountain. Both a miniature forest and a haven of peace, this welcoming urban woodland is the ideal place to recharge your batteries.
3. The hub: on either side of de Maisonneuve Boulevard West, the hub is a multimodal travel intersection (metro, REM, bicycle network) ensuring optimal orientation for users. The space offers thresholds to the avenue, rest areas equipped with urban furniture and thresholds leading to corporate spaces and prestigious addresses. The intersection is a more functional space with a vehicular axis to the Eaton Centre parking lot. This access is clearly identified and offers clearer views towards the mountain.
4. The park: located between the playground and the belvedere, this space offers a place of appropriation on the lawn, a flexible place that opens the door to multiple uses.
5. The garden: stretching on both sides of St. Catherine Street West, this portion offers a restful space for walkers who can find refuge under the trees, enjoy the animation of the terraces or take a break from the frenzy of downtown.
6. The theater: playing on elements of symmetry to highlight the theatricality of the city, this section of the route explores the notion of perspective on the sloping plane of the avenue. A monumental staircase allows to contemplate the urban scene by offering a spectacular view towards the north. The proximity scenography includes the blades, the water level of the first moment and the animation of the terraces; while the inclined slopes, the canopy, the framed view on the mountain and the sky constitute the distant scenography.
5 moments
Each moment is a place of gathering and meeting between two topographic sequences based on a formal game that makes the ground rise and fall. These punctual spaces share a common fractal language adopting the form of an out-of-scale folding that provokes a change of rhythm and atmosphere.
1. The agora ( to expose learning ) this moment marks the entrance to the "city of learning" and encourages sharing and discovery. It is at once an auditorium open to all, a place for the exchange of ideas and an ephemeral exhibition hall echoing the neighboring place of learning.
2. The placottoir (network and retreat) is a public space where workers and other passers-by can gather to eat, discuss or simply take a break in the shade of the trees.
3. The belvedere ("reveal"): this moment slightly pushed above ground includes a skylight that reveals the underground city and its infrastructure. This window on the SWR constitutes a breach which participates in the kinetics of the place and its particular topography. While creating an opening on the underground space, the presence of an appropriable roof offers a unique view on the mountain.
4. The play area (rest and play): this space takes the form of a folding game with a changing materiality, offering a touch of color in all seasons. It offers a playful pause to passers-by through its free and distinctive topography. The area encourages a natural approach to exploration and play by allowing young and old to slide, climb and jump on the different planes. Observers rest and contemplate this spontaneous animation.
5. The water level (see being seen): this moment consists of a water mirror and a slight topographical depression. The playful and interactive water plane (jets, bubbles, vapors) reflects the city and the sky while introducing a soft folding game that allows sitting, offering two complementary relationships to water. The mirror portion is the extension of the inverted topographic plane. Terraces are articulated around it to give rise to a lively and unifying space with great flexibility.
1 living picture
In the heart of downtown, the mountain imposes its soothing rhythm. The Avenue des Rencontres offers a lively tableau where the pace of travel is naturally slowed. The historical axis is underlined by a continuous and kinetic path, celebrating the notion of ascent and descent. The designed space allows a spontaneous animation of the place through a sober and versatile design; a unifying formal solution responding to the local context and adapting to the different scales of the space. The changing landscape of the avenue and its appropriation echo the different seasonal characters of the place.
The project attenuates distances and contracts the depth of the visual field. The city and the mountain are staged like two platforms placed opposite each other. At the foot of the mountain, the water, the wasteland and the different vegetation typologies are continuously deployed through a series of superimposed inclined planes. From the mountain, the heart of the city is revealed through a series of plazas, urban rooms and various modes of appropriation.
In addition to highlighting the mountain views, the ground rises and reveals itself to allow for varied planting that sublimates the car, like a large living tableau.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
Stage 1
General appreciation
The jury appreciated the Tiohtia: ke proposal, particularly because of the conceptual working strategy it proposes. The jury perceives the formulation of this design concept as a design methodology rather than a detailed representation of the project. The result is a statement of project principle that translates into a framework that could be very elegant in the development of the sketch. The proposal is articulated mainly from the ground. The reference to the gesture of digging is particularly interesting on the McGill College site, which has a heavily reworked soil testifying to a long history. But beyond the conceptual gesture, the jury wondered about the central idea behind the project as well as the legibility of this intention in the space. In particular, the jury questioned the interest of the reference to the First Nations in the title of the project. This reference did not seem very embodied, or even anecdotal, in relation to the concept developed. It recommended that this reference be improved or abandoned. Furthermore, the jury noted a certain discrepancy between the text and the proposal and had some difficulty reading and understanding the associated text.
Conceptual and environmental quality of the plant strategy
From an environmental point of view, the interest of the project lies in the asperities, in the play of the folds in the ground. By lifting the soil and digging it up, the competitor creates a microtopography that becomes fertile through the insertion of water or vegetation elements. The jury considers the environmental and vegetation strategy to have strong potential for advancement to subsequent stages. The explanation of the soil concept, however, remained rather simplistic and could better exploit the nature of the soil as a living system. The plan proposes a heavily mineralized space despite the program's desire to ensure a predominance of vegetation. The jury notes that the water feature envisioned for the Cathcart / St. Catherine W. section could be problematic due to its very large size, particularly in terms of its depth.
Landscape and Heritage Quality
The jury has strong concerns about the preservation of the heritage character of the site. In particular, it points out that the strategy for enhancing the visual axis towards Mount Royal is difficult to see from the documents submitted. The jury senses an issue of robustness in the material treatment and questions the durability of the materiality associated with the topographic folds.
Functional quality - Use
One of the dimensions of the proposal that is particularly appreciated is the possibility of creating intimate spaces that have a strong potential for renewing the experience of place. The presence of several sub-spaces allows for a differentiated experience along the way. Although the jury appreciates the fineness of the granularity, it is concerned about the repetitive barrier effect created by the multiplication of compositional elements perpendicular to the main axis of strolling. In particular, he suggests that the location of the types of folds as well as their amplitude (width) be carefully studied. The insertion of the terraces in the Cathcart / Sainte-Catherine O. section should be particularly developed. Finally, the jury wishes to emphasize that particular attention should be paid to the strategy for winter use and maintenance.
Functional quality - Mobility
As mentioned above, the jury suggests that the proposed north-south strolling experience along the entire length of McGill College Avenue be better thought out so as not to obstruct movement by inserting and multiplying perpendicular compositional elements. The jury notes that terraces are proposed near the entrance to the Eaton Centre parking lot. The jury proposes to better study the interfaces between vehicular, pedestrian and public spaces.
Stage 2
Conceptual and environmental quality of the plant strategy
During Stage 1 of the competition, the topographical work and the creation of a multiple, uneven and permeable soil presented, according to the jury, a strong potential in terms of plant strategy. However, the notion of folding and cutting up the ground, which is the identity marker of the concept, was not sufficiently exploited in the performance of Stage 2.
Landscape and heritage quality
In the first stage of the competition, the jury members appreciated the methodology of designing a grid that allowed for an articulation between the scale of McGill College Avenue and that of more intimate places. Despite this strong idea of folding modulating the space, it was not exploited. The rather uniform succession of folds seems disembodied from the topography of the existing site and unfortunately does not take advantage of it. The proposal remains formal.
The jury also mentions that the perspectives of the performance make it difficult to judge the quality of the views towards Mount Royal. The jury, like the advisory committee and the technical committee, has concerns related to the commemoration of the First Peoples in the context of the project.
Functional Quality - Use
The sub-spaces provide opportunities for differentiated experiences throughout the site. On the other hand, these spaces do not always seem to be in line with the needs and constraints expressed in the competition program.
In terms of the overall scale of the site, the jury members note that the rather regular modulation of the folding constrains the possibilities of appropriation.
The strategies of use and appropriation during the winter season, as well as the specific ambiances throughout the seasons, were not well developed.
Functional quality - Mobility
As with other services, mobility is an aspect that was not very well developed in the framework of Stage 2 of the competition. However, the proposed layouts seem to apply the main principles of accessibility. The jury emphasizes the potential conflicts of use between pedestrians and motorists at intersections and for access to the Eaton Centre parking lot.
Material quality, durability and maintenance of materials, furniture and equipment
The materials are of good quality and appropriate for the uses. The jury mentions that it is difficult to assess how the folds will be constructed. The performance remains rather schematic in this respect.
Consideration of phasing issues, innovation risk management and feasibility
The possibility of building retention areas above the REM slab will have to be validated with CDPQ Infra. The jury also questioned the integration of the recreational water feature in a slightly sloping section.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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