Just as layers of history accumulate through time to offer varying perspectives on culture and environment, Saucier + Perrotte's design for the Fifth Pavilion of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is composed of a series of mineral strata that form a home for the Hornstein collection of art. Floating gently above street level, each marble stratum is superimposed to produce a sculpted volume containing the collection and defining a space dedicated to the next generation of Montreal art lovers.
(Competitor's text)
The jury members raised the following main points regarding S+P's performance:
5.1 The conceptual approach to this project is very strong and bold, resulting in an extraordinary but unfortunately not museum-like sculptural work. It is pointed out that the metaphor is sometimes dangerous.
5.2 The urban integration is not successful. The perceived volume is too massive, and is even described as an arrogant gesture. The continued use of white marble is appreciated, but the result is severe and austere, even brutal.
5.3 The floating of the volume above the youth spaces is not considered to really work. The youth seems rather crushed by this immense volume.
5.4 Its plastic qualities are underlined but we deplore the lack of interest in respecting the strong elements of the program, including the opening on Bishop Street, in order to bring a presence and animation to it. One feels that the insertion of the program was forced into the work. This lack of sensitivity to the needs of the developer raises serious concerns for the future development of the project.
5.5 It is difficult to understand the decision to place the staircase, which is very interesting in itself, laterally and facing the blind wall of the Desmarais Pavilion. Only a small part of this vertical circulation contributes to a lively presence on Bishop Street.
5.6 The interior circulation is interesting and the links with the Desmarais Pavilion are well resolved.
5.7 This project has the best natural lighting in the basement space.
5.8 The finalist's choice to stick the building on the neighbor to the south, without exercising setbacks to avoid snow loads on the neighbouring structure, compromises the feasibility of the project within the established schedule. In addition, significant sums will have to be invested to solidify the structure of the neighbouring building. This being said, the exhibition halls will benefit from this in efficiency.
5.9 The positioning of the entrance near the alley does not ensure the safety of groups of children. It concentrates vehicular and pedestrian traffic, while the alley remains functional at all times and relatively busy.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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