Context
The Maisonneuve Library's Beaux-arts building is set back from Ontario Street and backs onto Place Ernest-Gendreau. It is positioned at the head of a block in the center of a large, largely grassy lot, a classic representation of the pavilion institutions of that era. The site is located between Pie-IX Boulevard to the west, a metropolitan-scale artery, and Desjardins Street to the east, a small street on the scale of the neighborhood, possibly pedestrian. The project acknowledges this duality and proposes an expansion that aligns the metropolitan scale with that of the neighborhood, and integrates the library into the existing urban fabric while respecting the template of the original pavilion. The proposal maintains the public nature of the ground around and in front of the original pavilion by floating the non-reception spaces above this large democratic space.
A built volume and a plant volume
The project proposes to invest, in continuity with the symmetry of the Beaux-Arts building, the two sides of the head of the block, by creating respectively on either side a built volume and a plant volume.
To the west, a four-storey building constitutes the main extension on the boulevard side, which represents more than 80% of the added surface. It is the new citizen wing of the library that offers a built front on Pie-IX, views and an opening to the city, while protecting the proposed new public space in front of the library from the noise of this metropolitan transit artery. Aligned on the first two levels with the Maison de la culture located to the east, the citizens' wing extends on the upper levels, cantilevering over the outdoor public space in front of it, following the alignment of the Ontario Promenade buildings on the west side, thus creating a suspended volume above the new library reception areas.
This new construction adjacent to Pie-IX Street frees up the east side of the site for a planted volume, the nature wing of the library. This other volume is composed of the existing mature trees that have been preserved and of three small volumes that have been cleared from the ground, built in trays. This side of the site links with the Maison de la culture and Desjardins Street through vegetated open and covered public spaces, and evokes the scale of the neighbourhood's row houses with its small constructions on stilts, in addition to offering quieter reading spaces.
Connected by footbridges to the existing building, the built and planted volumes, set back on either side respectively, set the scene for the heritage building. The construction template respects the predominant volumetry of the historic pavilion. Also set back from the sidewalk of Pie-IX and Desjardins streets, the new constructions spare the mature trees along these two public roads.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
- The conceptual approach presented is poetic and very much appreciated, but the realization of the idea is rather patchy. The jury perceives a competing dialogue between the heritage building and the proposed new part. Although very contemporary, the architectural treatment of the new building is very detailed and "worked". One feels that the project is in dialogue with the site rather than with the existing building.
- One appreciates the recesses on each side of the original building, but the projections of the new volumes on either side produce an effect of encasing the heritage building.
- The main entrance to the building is difficult to perceive. The invitation to enter through the center of the heritage building remains. It is surprising to note that the proposed entrance is not located under the canopy created at the corner of Ontario and Pie-IX.
- The proposed outdoor spaces, thanks to the volume on stilts, raise a lot of questions about the real appropriation of these covered spaces, their security and viability in the medium and long term. The tracks announced in phase 1 of this competition however let us hope for an appreciable height under the volume "in the trees".
- The presence of wood contributes to create a warm atmosphere. On the other hand, the replacement of wood in a later cost reduction exercise is announced.
- The very compartmentalized interior layout of this project allows little flexibility.
- The desired qualities of a reception area at the main entrance are not met.
- Several non-functional elements were raised, notably in the management and the book route.
- It was noted that the children's animation room may not be used much because it is not located in the children's area.
- The incomplete view from the reading room on the lower part of the mezzanine raises some questions.
- The completion of the building envelope remains uncertain due to its complexity.
- The objectives of achieving LEED Silver certification have not been confirmed following the finalist's proposals in response to the technical report to achieve the targeted budget.
- These proposals in response to the technical report to achieve the budget targets significantly alter the concept of the originally proposed performance and raise many questions.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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