The overall design creates a major focus at the intersection of [4] quadrants in the form of a cruciform public open space, which we have called Place Montreal. Place Montreal is the symbolic place for the city and the province, the focus of the Cite Internationale itself and a direct link m between the downtown and the old city. The cruciform simultaneously concentrates spatial force in a single point and reaches out in all directions into the fabric and life of the city. At the end of each arm of the cruciform, connector buildings are introduced as links between the quadrants; one of which is the symbolic International Conference Center, placed over Avenue Viger.
Quadrants 1 and 3, which are dense and complete as they exist, are left largely undisturbed by the design. Quadrants 2 and 4 are developed in conjunction with the Place Montreal, in a new internal form of building as city fabric. Within quadrant 2, a glazed atrium is created by adapting and adding to the backs of the existing buildings. The atrium becomes a focus for local service transactions and a link between Rue Rene Levesque and the ICC. Within quadrant 4, a 1.5 hectare park is created called Pare Square. Pare Square functions in several ways: first, as a calm center to a concentration of office buildings; second, as a link between these and the residential development which is envisaged to complete the southern part of the square; third, as the termination of an extended connection with the old city through Place d'Youville and along the quays to Place Jacques Cartier. At the edge of the site a new gateway to the city called Les Champs d'Entree is made where Autoroute Bonaventure joins Rue Universite and enters the city. A grand boulevard park is opened up and formed by a wall of new buildings at the edge of the Cite Internationale.
The overall design therefore creates four new primary spaces within the site: the cruciform at the center, a square, an atrium and an enlarged entrance park.
(From competitor's text)
STAGE 1
This project presents as its outstanding element a set of public spaces expanding Victoria Square, along Beaver Hall and Viger Streets, in order to make it the essential place-making statement of the overall design. In this way, it succeeds to provide the International Conference Centre with a significant location and a very appropriate setting, at its eastern end. The jury understands that the building forms proposed for these spaces are mainly illustrations of possible design guidelines rather than definite architectural statements. The overall design concept provides a fairly unified image and urban design for the whole district. It restores a conventional spatial relationship between public spaces and buildings, creating additional frontages, and rectifying some geometrical problems of the district. It is a reasonably implementable project, as the proposed extensions to the public domain are creating new development potential rather than impairing it. The jury also noted with interest the treatment of the boundary condition along University Street, although being less convinced by the ground-level treatment. Also noted with interest was the proposed pedestrian link from Rene-Lévesque Boulevard. Negative aspects of this design include the rigidity, or even over-design, of some of its building proposals, which obscures its basic principles, and does not illustrate the possibility for some flexibility in their implementation. For example, the present design is too rigid in its proposed configuration of the I.C.C., and of its access from Hermine Street by means of an elevated roadway and the jury would appreciate a demonstration of the overall feasibility of the basic concept even if such details cannot be carried through in the implementation process. Similar comments apply to modifications of the base of existing buildings.
STAGE 2
The jury unanimously finds the winning project to be a compelling attempt to form a new quartier in Montreal, in keeping with the goals of competition for the Cite internationale de Montreal. Of paramount importance is the intention to create a sense of identity through a series of major and minor new public spaces. It follows that the district - - diversified and in spots chaotic, encompassing approximately 100 acres or 40 hectares - - is to be organized in a pattern of distinctive precincts. Notable features of the proposal include the retention for the most part of conventional urban blocks and building parcels; the thoughtful address of existing problems of urban form, and provision for a diversity of elements and situations. Historic structures and places are preserved or sympathetically improved. Existing large-scale structures are sensibly integrated into the urban fabric. In both general and specific terms the proposal can be translated into a cogent, much-needed set of urban design guidelines. Although the jury has reservations concerning certain aspects of the plan, as is natural in an undertaking of such scope, it feels confident that the armature of streets and squares establishes the opportunity for the area to be developed incrementally, over time. The most important public amenity proposed is a cruciform open space focussing upon a new symbolic centerpiece, Place Montreal. The north-south arm of the cross extends along the McGiO axis from the relocated Square Victoria, at rue de La Gauchetiere, to a reconfigured Place du Commerce, south of Rue Saint-Antoine. The west-east arm extends along the Rue McGill - Beaver Hall Hill axis from the relocated Square Victoria, at Rue de La Gauchetiere, to a reconfigured Place du Commerce, south of Rue Saint-Antoine. The west-east arm extends along a reshaped Avenue Viger from Rue University to a new symbolic structure, a frontispiece for the International Conference Center. This major public space is enclosed and defined by buildings, both new and existing: Architecture is here used sensitively to advance the goals of urban design. All buildings fronting this space are to adhere to certain standards of massing and design; within these constraints, diversity of expression is called for. The lower levels of these framing buildings are to be unified (and, in places, connected) by arcades. Existing buildings, such as the Tour de la Bourse or the Banque Nationale du Canada, at present not coherently related, are to be adapted to the scale and alignment of this arrangement by such consistent architectural treatment at the lower levels. Ample - indeed exciting - architectural opportunities abound. Of special interest is the proposal for a new, relatively small-scale institutional building to ''close'' the southern arm of the cross, just north of the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue McGill. At the northern edge of the district,the intention is to create a sympathetic new setting for St. Patrick's Basilica. Appropriately, minimal intervention is suggested in the blocks abutting Old Montreal. An entirely new precinct is foreseen at the southwestern edge of the Cite internationale. This section is distinguished by a significant public space, Pare Square, to bind together the commercial district with the proposed Faubourg des Récollets. Transitions from the northern commercial district to the Pare Square neighbourhood are in the main sympathetically conceived. Rue University is treated as a formal entryway to downtown, framed office buildings. The jury concurs with the planning principles enunciated by the authors of the proposal: "The public spaces... should be a first priority....[And] an urbane city is ordered and given life by its streets, squares and parks but is filled in by the individual unpredictable and diverse buildings of private enterprise''. In elaborating the actual plan for the area, a number of aspects will have to be examined and possibly reconsidered in the light of the results. The location of the International Conference Center may pose some problems in technical terms, such as bridging the autoroute. The indicated solution also implies the visual blocking of Rue de Bleury and the isolation of the Palais des Congrès It may be possible to find a workable solution through a later architectural competition, but it is felt that probably a location on the north side of the eastern cross arm would offer more flexibility without doing harm to the general spatial concept The design demands a reappraisal of the present traffic system; the quality of the boulevards would be seriously restricted if the present traffic load, especially on Avenue Viger and on Rue McGill - Beaver Hall Hill would have to be accommodated In addition, the big difference in traffic load between Avenue Viger and the corresponding southern street in the east-west arm of the cross renders the symmetrical layout illogical, from a transportation point of view. In addition, the already unsatisfactory traffic situation caused by the slope of Beaver Hall Hill is at least in part aggravated by the proposed road arrangement; this question must be examined in a wider context of traffic rerouting for the area under consideration. The necessary reduction of motor traffic is the central area of the scheme would also allow for smaller driveways to the benefit of the green areas. The actual design of these green areas should be open to accommodate different uses. It seems also worth considering to differentiate the character of the two axes - e.g. one more as a green space and the other as a predominantly paved urban plaza - and to take account more clearly of the slope in the northern arm. It may also be open to question whether the very welcome feature of the green square in the southwest should really be developed as a formalized garden parterre or be more adapted to social uses especially in view of the adjoining residential area. Rue McGill as the main connection from the central area to the river is rightly emphasized, but the row of trees in the middle of the street does not seem appropriate since it would impede the view. Instead, the street should be made more inviting for pedestrians by wider sidewalks. Although the idea of a ''Champ d'entrée'' to mark the beginning of Rue University as a civilized entry to the city is appreciated, the particular scale, formation of trees and paving pattern proposed seem problematical. Given the importance of this space in terms of civic design, which we endorse, one encourages an early engagement between the sponsors and Montreal planning officials on this matter. The proposed building arrangement southwest of St.Patrick's Basilica displays a very sensitive scale on the ground plan, but brings high buildings into very close proximity to the church. Moreover, it is most desirable not to block the diagonal view toward the church from the northern end of the boulevard. A belvedere linking the church to the square may resolve this dilemma.
(From jury report)
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