QUAI NOTRE-DAME
The recent announcement concerning the transformation of the Lachine marina into a new waterfront park paves the way for an evolution in the identity of the Old Lachine district. Rue Notre-Dame, a central artery that complements boulevard Saint-Joseph, has all the potential to become a reinvented destination for Lachine residents and Montrealers alike.
To this end, we have imagined the new rue Notre-Dame as an extension of the future riverside park. Like a long wharf near the water's edge, a new kilometer-long boardwalk will be deployed. It links the Lachine market at the western end to the future eco-district at the eastern end. The main objective of this development strategy is very simple: to make walking along the street extremely pleasant. This is how a new shopping promenade takes shape, with a character very different from those of other shopping streets in the metropolitan area.
The atmosphere is relaxed, dynamic and festive. Visitors feel close to the river and its nature, yet in an urban environment. The long promenade is punctuated by a wide variety of shops, as well as placottoirs, terraces and small gardens where city dwellers, water sports enthusiasts, cyclists, artists and tourists mingle. All new facilities are public and shared. They can serve more than one business and are accessible at any time of day. Appreciated by all local residents, they stimulate the commercial vitality of the artery and encourage real estate investment. Over time, a growing number of heritage facades are being restored, and the historic character of the area is fully enhanced.
The new street configuration is both inclusive and user-friendly. The typical twelve-meter-wide lane, once reserved exclusively for motor vehicles, is now redivided into four corridors and includes:
- A two-way bicycle path
- A low-speed (20km/h), one-way (east-west) vehicular lane.
- A multi-purpose strip that can accommodate planters, terraces, parking spaces or delivery areas, as required.
- A wide wooden sidewalk
Redesigning the street according to these parameters has more than one advantage. It improves safety for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly at intersections. Reducing the number of motor vehicles on the artery also leads to a reduction in air and noise pollution. The latter is replaced by the songs of avian fauna and the sounds of organisms attracted by the vegetation. From a climatic point of view, the reduction in mineralized surfaces and the integration of several planted areas also contribute to a reduction in heat islands and a more intelligent management of surface water. All in all, these new features lend a highly attractive character and a new identity to Rue Notre-Dame, which without ignoring the past, seems resolutely oriented towards the future.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
+ GENERAL APPRECIATION
PARA-SOL's "Quai Notre-Dame" proposal stood out for its sobriety, its strong gesture with the integration of a wharf and its overall quality.
+ CONCEPTUAL QUALITY
The proposal developed around the universal symbol of the "boardwalk" is very strong, evoking an exotic stroll along Notre-Dame Street, and echoing the river, which is the very essence of the area. It's also a proposal that allows for versatility and generates other ideas, enabling evolution over time. It was pointed out, however, that the link with the industrial past has not been made.
+ EXPERIENTIAL QUALITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS POTENTIAL
Experiential quality is closely linked to conceptual quality. The concept has great potential for appeal, building on the qualities of Lachine's riverside spaces, the very essence of the territory.
+ INTEGRATION AND FORMAL QUALITY
The "Quai Notre-Dame" proposal offers a facilitating approach to street management, with flexibility in space and time. Jury members appreciated the simplicity and clear images.
There was discussion of extending the quay down to the water to reinforce the gesture and facilitate links with the riverfront.
+ FUNCTIONAL QUALITY
The functional quality of the proposal is very well defined, thanks to the clear "pedestrian-car-building" interface. Particular attention has also been paid to user safety, especially at intersections. However, the durability of the wood needs to be assessed, particularly with regard to winter maintenance. One member of the jury raised the idea of using concrete imitating wood for the mobilization of this proposal. The proposal also features simple prototyping, possibly facilitating implementation.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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