INTENTIONS: the senses at the heart of the experience
Water is the source of life. Water shapes the city. Always in motion, the river dances and shapes the landscape, echoes the gentle sounds of birds, the violent noises of torrents, disperses the fragrant scents of summer's heat and winter's cold, nourishes living beings, carries man from bank to bank, sometimes in the reassuring calm of its current, sometimes in the combative anger of its rapids. The river never dies... it always sees farther, bigger... towards the river, towards the ocean (AC).
Here, the Rivière des Prairies is the anchor for the new Espace Rivière, which aims to:
1. offer the prairie community places to welcome, gather, share knowledge, create and reach out to all cultures and generations, with inspiring and inclusive ambiences as varied as the river's course;
2. develop the potential of the exceptional landscape formed by the wooded area adjacent to the site, Parc René-Masson and its creek in connection with the river, as a source of interconnections between the island's uses (school, aquatic center, arena) and Espace Rivière;
3. create a structuring and attractive civic and cultural hub through architecture that is at once identitarian, dynamic, transparent and perennial, in communion with the proposed human trek, the natural wooded shoreline stretching to the river and the urban banks of the adjacent boulevards;
4. set the course for future development of the woodland, Parc René-Masson, boulevard Gouin and adjacent institutional interfaces, taking into account the Espace Rivière master plan;
5. demonstrate the sustainability of its developments by aiming for LEED Gold certification and the City's energy performance targets (zero carbon, BCZ Design v.2 standard)
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
- This finalist proposed a project whose historical references, researched and associated with the evolution of the site, were greatly appreciated by the Jury.
- The project's great strengths lie in its exterior design and the site's connections with its surroundings. This proposal makes the Espace Rivière hub evolve in a very dynamic way, bringing Espace Rivière to life.
- Despite perceived difficulties with universal accessibility, the urban design and spread of the project across the site are much appreciated.
- The excellent understanding of the site is not in phase with the proposed architecture. Its signature is rather generic; the building could be anywhere but Rivière-des-Prairies. Its cold, austere character is out of keeping with the Borough's community. The Jury has doubts about citizens' acceptance of the site and the expected broadening of the customer base.
- With its cold materiality, the architectural treatment has an institutional rather than a community aspect, which does not encourage inclusion and appropriation of the site by the population. The Jury felt that the emphasis was more on the architecture than on the users of the neighborhood.
- The fragmentation of the program into distinctive volumes allows for an interesting treatment of the four main facades. This same fragmentation creates a complexity of volumes with enclosed, lost and sometimes intimidating spaces, such as the exterior staircase running between two blind walls.
- The organization of the interior is not conducive to inviting people in, as there is little sign of activity from the street, particularly on the Boulevard Rodolphe-Forget side, where walkers walk along largely blind walls.
- The place inspires calm rather than noise. It seems to be dedicated to people accustomed to large institutional cultural spaces. The objective of human-centred design is not achieved.
- The many possible outdoor-indoor-outdoor routes create a beautiful porosity while encouraging impromptu frequentation. However, the interior ambience is not conducive to strolling and relaxation.
- Despite the isolation of the Pôle vie active, the interior organization is well resolved and presents a functional sequence of different poles. However, the flexibility of the space is questionable.
- The Carrefour, with its elongated shape, seems rather squeezed between several functions, not collaborating with the gatherings and ambitions of the project's overall program.
- The technical proposals demonstrate good interdisciplinary cohesion.
- The team presents good proposals for achieving sustainable development objectives, but at the same time, the basic concept of fragmentation runs counter to these efforts.
- In view of the technical report, the budgetary feasibility of this project is questioned by the Jury, even if the solutions proposed by the Finalist to achieve it seem acceptable. The concept of a fragmented volume contributes to the increase in the building envelope surface area. A rationalization of costs would risk altering the heart of the concept.
Open discussion
- This proposal is an excellent response to the project's vision statement, acting as a lever for the requalification of the site and the concrete evolution of the Pôle Espace Rivière.
- A strong axis is created between boulevard Perras and the new alleyway.
- The main strengths of the exterior design are located off-site, and will therefore be the responsibility of the City in a future project to be defined.
- The functioning of the spaces is highly respectful of the requirements of the PFT.
- The Pôle des arts de la scène is well mastered and demonstrates exemplary functionality.
- The proposal demonstrates a lack of understanding of the cultural identity sought and the unifying character of the program.
- The risks of altering the concept in order to meet budget targets are very high.
From jury report
(Unofficial automated translation)
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