Rather than considering the new Saint-Laurent city library as "a gateway to Marcel-Laurin park", we prefer to imagine that it be perceived as an integral part of the park, in the heart of the woodland. The nature-culture dichotomy that leads us to think of parks as green oases separated from the urban environment by a well-defined boundary no longer corresponds to the aspirations of Montrealers. The desire to green the city extends beyond this framework to streets, alleys, courtyards and rooftops, combining sustainable development, quality of life and improved plant cover. Visiting the library can be an immersive experience that helps to fulfill this desire while providing a setting for reading.
To achieve this, we first split the building's massing to fit within the existing forest, preserving 86% of the trees larger than 20 cm. We cannot claim to be exemplary in terms of sustainable development by razing a substantial part of the woodland. Strict protection measures with penalties imposed on the builder will make it possible to achieve this objective.
In order to contribute to the regeneration of the woodland, which is composed mainly of cottonwoods with a life expectancy of approximately twelve years, and to increase its biological diversity, we propose a program of planting new trees of superior interest, such as the hackberry. The perimeter of the woodland will be extended to Thimens Boulevard so that the library will be in the middle of the trees.
The forecourt leading to the lobby and located along Todd Street provides a stop for cyclists and hikers who will find benches, bike racks, shade, public art and public animation. It consists of a series of paved strips through which planted ground covers grow, as well as a few strips of wood decking that become playful street furniture. We propose that the green strip it crosses, which we treat as an extension of the urban forest, also becomes a green energy production zone and a vegetal filter. We have chosen to locate geothermal wells whose presence is made visible by luminous drums whose light-emitting diodes are powered by solar energy. The rainwater retention surfaces are also developed to become additional wetlands to those found in Marcel-Laurin Park. The library project provides an opportunity to initiate the formation of a true linear garden on the theme of green energy along the 35-meter wide boulevard and become a showcase of best environmental practices for citizens who use it for recreational purposes or for their daily commute.
(From competitor's text)
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The concept is strong and mature, with great sensitivity in its simplicity, and responds imaginatively to the program.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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