THERMAL MASS
Cold, grey, lonely. Such is the experience of winter in Montreal for many people. Indeed, the design of our public spaces does not allow for their natural summer appropriation in winter. Victoria Square is a good example: full of activities in the summer, the square is practically inanimate in the winter, with passers-by preferring the underground passages.
However, human beings are not the only ones to experience cold and harsh winters. Emperor penguins in the Antarctic face a winter that is far more intense than ours. It is by grouping together that they manage to survive. This image inspired the objectives of our proposal: warmth, color and grouping.
The chosen location is near Victoria Square, directly behind the ICAO building. This location, in the heart of Montreal's economic center, close to the Central Station and directly linked to the Victoria Square metro station, is ideal to encourage grouping. The current non-landscaped grassy area is transformed into a square composed of translucent backlit slabs. These piezo-sensitive tiles will turn a bright color when a pedestrian passes by. The greater the density of people in an area, the warmer the color of the tiles will be, inviting people to get as close as possible.
Furniture is formed by extruded tiles at different heights to create tables and benches. In addition, the space is designed for mobile canteens offering food and hot drinks, for the happiness and comfort of users.
The slabs and furniture act as thermal diffusers. Recovering heat from the Montreal underground, they are gradually activated by the presence of people. Thus, the more the square is inhabited, the warmer and more colorful it becomes, encouraging people to stay and contribute to this multiplier effect. This effect is amplified by a sound feedback expressing the atmosphere of the place; calm when the space is not very crowded and lively and rhythmic when there are many people.
The long blind wall closing the square directly to the west is transformed into an interactive light mural adding to the playfulness of the place. Even more spectacular than the fresco, a projection to scale, in real time, of the luminous tiles is diffused on the Bourse tower. It is the indicator of the number of people on the square and the signal of call to all citizens to encourage them to come and enjoy together a warm and colorful winter.
This type of arrangement could be repeated in the city, in spaces along the route of the Montreal underground, using it as a source of warmth for the space. Winter will take on a new color, encouraging people to share human warmth to transform our cold, lonely and dull winters into a warm, friendly and colorful experience.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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