Pedestrian and Shared Streets: Safety and Walkability
Through a program to implement pedestrian and shared streets (PIRPP), the city of Montreal wanted to further improve meeting spaces for its citizens and tourists. The Simon-Valois meeting zone project, for which the competition was launched in 2017, was part of a series of municipal projects designed to enhance the pedestrian experience. Located in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, the site chosen for this project was strategic given its commercial and cultural environment. To meet the requirements of the competition, the winning Aiguillage Urbain project by CIVILITI + FRANÇOIS COURVILLE + UDO DESIGN opted for a well-defined, structured and geometrically relevant space. The quality of the pedestrian experience is thus based on a respectful and well-composed relationship with the existing space.
The Simon-Valois square, which was not an integral part of the competition site, can be considered as a suitable venue for events. The square remains the cultural hub of the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood, which is undergoing a major revitalization with the arrival of new residents and the development of new businesses. Competitors' entries were expected to cover a total surface area of 3,750 m² on the pavement and sidewalks. The competition highlighted the concept of a “shared street,” defined as pedestrians having priority on the roadway, with the speed of cars and cyclists increased to 20 km/h. In 2017, this project was also considered to be at the forefront of the concept of this type of street, and would later serve as a benchmark for projects of the same type, particularly in Montreal and Quebec in general.
The site was also intended to be a permanent testament to the qualities of universal accessibility, mobility and safety; attractiveness and conviviality; all in a multi-purpose layout that could accommodate both small and large-scale gatherings.
Competitors had to call on their expertise in different types of landscaping and furnishings, in the choice of project materials and in the quality of lighting treatment. The program emphasized the removable nature of certain features, in particular the dismountable sidewalks/terraces that will come to life along the edges of the buildings during the summer season. In terms of flora, a three-pronged plant strategy was implemented. The transplanting of mature trees, the planting of flowering trees and the planting of abundantly flowering shrub beds.
The competition took place in two phases. Nearly twenty teams had their projects evaluated by a panel of judges, who selected four finalists:
“Perméance” by the consortium: ALEXANDRE BERNIER ARCHITECTE + PAUL BERNIER ARCHITECTE + L’ABRI;
“La grande Simone” by the consortium: MOUSSE ARCHITECTURE DE PAYSAGE + COLLECTIF ESCARGO + GRAVITAIRE;
“Motif orienté” by the consortium: ARCADIA STUDIO + PARASOL and
“Aiguillage urbain” by the consortium: CIVILITI + FRANÇOIS COURVILLE + UDO DESIGN.
The jury's attention was drawn to a number of challenges: functionality, cohesion, aesthetics and visual appeal, as well as appropriation and versatility, were the main elements used to filter the projects in the first stage. In addition to these criteria, the jury paid particular attention to the evolution of the proposals after the first-stage reports, the appropriateness and effectiveness of the architectural choices and the resulting budgetary implications and feasibility challenges.
In 4th place, the “Perméance” project by ALEXANDRE BERNIER ARCHITECTE + PAUL BERNIER ARCHITECTE + L'ABRI, stood out for its abundance of vegetation. As the borough recognizes the lack of green spaces, a reforestation project was still an important consideration. The jury found, however, that this asset was not fully exploited, and could be a hindrance to the appropriation of the space for large-scale events.
“La Grande Simone” was ranked 3rd. For the jury, this project presented a good balance between tinted minerality and vegetation, with the various spaces offering a great deal of freedom of movement for citizens. MOUSSE ARCHITECTURE DE PAYSAGE + COLLECTIF ESCARGO + GRAVITAIRE proposed a layout that would allow activities to flourish and attract a large audience. However, the choice of materials, particularly those for the furniture and the tinted concrete paving, were not convincing in terms of durability.
In 2nd place, ARCADIA STUDIO + PARASOL's proposal was characterized by simplicity, visual quality and good aesthetic management. The project also stands out for its “oriented motif”, which is repeated in a matrix pattern on the floor of the meeting zone. In addition to the good functional performance of the whole, Valois Street seems particularly well laid out, with flexible and versatile proposals. However, the jury wondered about the effectiveness of the appropriation of certain spaces by merchants, both during the daily use of the street and when it is closed. In terms of ecological solutions, water management was to be handled by bio-retention tanks. This was a positive feature of the project, which demonstrated the technical feasibility of this aspect. However, the lack of fluidity when moving around on the sidewalks was highlighted, due to the very location of these bins, and also to the management of certain arrangements intended to pay homage to the oriented motif.
In a nod to the railway tracks that used to run through the Place Simon-Valois site, the winning entry chose Corten steel for the furniture. The jury seems to have particularly appreciated the qualities of this material and its historical link with the site. The winning "Aiguillage Urbain" project by CIVILITI + FRANÇOIS COURVILLE + UDO DESIGN opted for a well-defined, structured and geometrically recognizable space. By opting for simplicity and cohesion with the existing space, the various layouts capture the spirit of Place Simon-Valois while contributing to its enlargement. On the Ontario Street side, the project proposes a flexible appropriation of space that meets the expectations of the competition. The management of green spaces and trees, often considered less than daring, requires visual ventilation of the site, particularly for large gatherings. This choice of layout is well supported and embellished by an aesthetically pleasing configuration of the lighting system. The project was judged not only relevant, but realistic in its feasibility, both in terms of budget projections and construction technologies.
The “shared street” concept presents paradoxical challenges to designers, requiring innovative solutions to give meeting zones their true potential. Moving bus stops out of the zone was ultimately deemed more than necessary by the jury, increasing a sense of belonging and safety for people on foot. After all, it's the quality of safety we're refering to when we talk about a new-found pedestrian experience in an urban environment.
The Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood is undergoing a major social and urban transformation. Its rich industrial heritage, its vitality and its proximity to downtown are attracting new residents and merchants who are contributing to the social mix and to an increasingly prosperous local economy.
As a continuation of its efforts to enhance the area, the borough is launching a call for creative ideas on a Canadian scale to transform the area around Place Simon-Valois into a meeting zone by developing two sections of shared streets, namely Ontario Street and Valois Avenue.
The primary objective of this competition is to respond to the vision statement by putting forward the principles of the shared street (in 2.1) for the entire targeted intervention perimeter (in 1.2). The borough wishes to achieve high standards in terms of the quality of its developments, from an aesthetic, spatial, functional and social perspective. The following objectives should act as guidelines for the development of the project in order to create a safe, user-friendly and versatile Meeting Place.
(From competition program)
(Unofficial automated translation)
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Ville de Montréal-Arrondissement Mercier-, Lancement d'un concours de design pour l'aménagement de la Zone de rencontre Simon-Valois
Ledain, Nicolas, La place Simon-Valois élue «coup de cœur» du concours Opération patrimoine, Journal Métro, 2018
Montréal, Arrondissement Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve | Ville de, Projets finalistes | Concours pluridisciplinaire | Zone de rencontre Simon-Valois, Kollectif, 2017
Présentation publique // Zone de rencontre Simon-Valois – Projet Paysage
Constructo, Portail, Zone de rencontre Simon-Valois : concours de design national
astopa, La piétonnisation de la place Simon-Valois décalée en 2018, Journal Métro, 2017
