IDEA | A posture of modesty
Moderne architecture contains in its early foundations a challenge that remains unresolved to this day: that of evolving the form into a social architecture that moves beyond subjective styles and preferences to serve a wider public. Pointe Saint-Charles' ongoing community involvement and the program developed with its citizens for the Éva Circé-Coté Library offer an opportunity to take up this challenge once again.
Today's Carré Hibernia is home to two high-quality elements of identity, a 19th-century barracks with its traditional façade and a public park with its opulent vegetation. Any intervention in this heritage environment must aim to enhance the character of the site and show it off to its best advantage. Our proposal settles on the sensitive site, and seeks to compose with the well-established character of Le Carré. By reactivating the larger program that unfolds there, the whole forms a renewed whole.
Our approach focuses on preserving the park's natural environment and greenery, and restoring the barracks' exterior envelope. In the context of its expansion, the aim is to proceed with modesty. Three of the building's four outer corners are kept clear to allow a clearer reading of its existing volume. Structurally, our strategy is to avoid having to comply with seismic standards, and to address the question of reinforcement with minimalism.
Building in a park requires delicacy, as this space belongs to everyone, and movement through the streets and paths of this park represents a freedom of movement that we wish to bring into our planning of the new library. This project must therefore rise to the challenge of bringing public outdoor space into its interior, making it welcoming and conducive to social exchange.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
Arguments in favor of the service
- The extension is aesthetically strong and features the use of noble materials.
- The transparency between the barracks and the extension - a well-known and successful solution here - allows the barracks to be showcased without risk.
- The use of masonry on the first floor, echoing the rhythm of the barracks, is appreciated, as is the lighter appearance of the upper floor.
- The new section demonstrates considerable flexibility.
- The functionality of the spatial organization is efficient and requires little adjustment.
- The structural proposal is convincing and highly resolute.
- LEED certification targets are met through a variety of measures.
- Overall, budget feasibility is demonstrated.
Arguments against performance
- The formalism of the proposal does not reflect the social values of the program for this new library.
- The project is rather inward-looking, and does not encourage people to enter or gather. It demonstrates a lack of conceptual coherence with regard to the desire to celebrate the park.
- The ensemble remains visually two distinct buildings.
- The choice of presenting the program on only two levels is penalizing in terms of the major footprint on the park.
- The fact that the agora is located in the central aisle, which also has an important circulation function, can be confusing.
- The central aisle, with its restricted view of the park, is surprisingly oriented at 90 degrees to the main entrance, towards Rue Laprairie.
- Ventilation via floor diffusers and shelving makes for complex operations and a certain inflexibility.
- Energy efficiency has not been achieved.
- The mechanical room is too small.
Jury's reservations
- Although there is no consensus on this remark, and it may be the designer's signature, the architectural proposal is not site-specific. It shares many similarities with another project recently designed by this firm for a new library in another of the city's boroughs.
- The use of solar panels to heat domestic water seems ill-advised given the building's purpose.
- The lack of space for mechanical equipment is likely to result in an increased budget to compensate for this situation.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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