THE SPINE
At the heart of this inclusive redesign is a funicular, envisioned as the main circulatory spine of the CEPSUM complex. Historically, Mount Royal had a rope tow and a funicular that stopped functioning in 1918. Navigating the steep slope between the lower campus entrance and the upper pool and registration areas, the new funicular ensures equitable, intuitive access for all users, whether wheelchair users, athletes, seniors, parents with strollers, or visitors with temporary injuries. To enhance the experience, a large window has been created along the funicular route, offering a direct view into the pool and allowing users to connect visually with the activity and energy inside. More than a mobility device, it becomes a symbol of dignified and collective movement, anchoring the entire public realm.
SPINE Radiating from this central spine is a modular plaza, inspired by Singapore's Enabling Village, that transforms the sloped terrain into a series of terraced platforms. These stepped levels accommodate seating, circulation, vegetation, and public life, creating a vibrant space for gathering, resting, and community events. Wood and tactile materials enhance comfort, while open views and resting spots promote ease of navigation.
To enhance horizontal connectivity, a pedestrian bridge extends from the top of the funicular across the site, linking key destinations: the arena, pool, cafeteria, and main registration. This bridge offers a direct and weather-protected path, reinforcing visual clarity and fluid transitions between interior and exterior zones. This vision prioritizes invisible accessibility, where inclusive design is embedded in every level, transition, and experience not as an add-on, but as a core design principle. The reimagined CEPSUM becomes a welcoming, legible, and empowering environment, an equitable public place that not only accommodates difference but celebrates it through design.
(From competitor's text)
The proposal is a ski lift or funicular. The idea is interesting and would have benefited from more detailed to explain user journey to reception.
(From jury report)
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