Place des Pionniers
The project we are proposing will first and foremost turn Place des Pionniers into a genuine public square in the heart of Old Aylmer. This square, defined by the library's large, sunny facade, becomes a gathering point linking the Memorial Park to the Ottawa River via a promenade along Principale Street.
The angulation of the building's south-facing facade creates a gesture of openness that both gives generous proportions to the public square and strengthens the link between it and the park.
With its abundantly fenestrated walls, the building's first floor extends into the public square and vice versa. Together, these two lively spaces create an attractive buzz for residents and visitors alike.
The lantern
Place des Pionniers is marked by a lantern-like volume that hangs over it like an arm reaching out into the night, lamp in hand, to lead the way. In the image of scouts and enlightened ones, of those who open the way through the forest or the spirits, this large lantern braided in wood and set in glass guides us through the issues that mobilize us today.
The mesh is inspired by the sinew snowshoe motif used by the First Nations to travel and "open passages" in winter. They give the volume a distinctive character that makes it the emblem of the project and of the heart of Aylmer. On Principale Street, it can be seen from a distance, like a signal whose visibility is amplified by the angularity of the library's south facade. In these snowshoes, facing the immensity of this world, we will always be pioneers.
Suspended over the public square, the lantern creates a space sheltered from sun and rain for users of the library, the multi-purpose hall and passers-by.
The agora
The agora is the third place, versatile and inclusive. The place par excellence for living together, where the bubbles of individuals and groups overlap in an audible yet harmonious murmur. With its large east-facing window, this space enjoys radiant sunshine and a refreshing bird's-eye view of Memorial Park.
At night, the large window of this masonry volume becomes a screen where images of Aylmer and its pioneers are projected.
The northern volume
The volume to the north of the site essentially houses the Citizen Services Centre. This masonry volume floats above the outdoor parking lot, taking advantage of the quieter environment here. The organization of spaces and the modulation of its facades are designed to meet short and medium-term needs, and ensure the potential for conversion of these two floors into library space.
The atrium
The atrium forms a void at the center of the building, linking the main functions to each other, to Place des Pionniers and to the sky. Fully glazed to the south, this neuralgic space where users converge keeps them in constant contact with the public square and Principale Street.
In the center of the atrium, a staircase rises to a zenithal opening that bathes the hall in light, serving all three floors. Ample circulation around the perimeter of the staircase makes it ideal for exhibitions and meetings.
At the foot of the staircase, the circulation desk is strategically placed near the door to facilitate book control.
A second entrance on the north side crosses the atrium from one side to the other, providing access to the outdoor parking area at the rear.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
POINTS OF INTEREST
+ Nice conceptual idea of the sinew.
+ Good clarity in showing the project in its overall urban context.
+ Very good shared experience between pedestrians and users.
+ Beautiful quality of the covered space (the porch) at the main entrance.
+ Beautifully open front space, on the main street and linked to the Memorial Park.
+ Relevance of the north-south axis for entrances and traffic flow on the site.
+ Good presence of massing and different responses to the site.
+ Attractive route along the main street, respecting the heritage context.
+ Beautiful perspective from the tiered "Atrium" overlooking the Memorial Park.
+ Beautiful expression of a place of destination.
+ The ambience of the library's interior really shines through in the perspectives.
+ Very good interior vertical circulation.
+ The administrative section seems to function well.
+ Nice signage for the lantern.
POINTS OF QUESTIONING
+/- The project's total surface area was respected to the detriment of several interior spaces. We would have liked to see the possibility of increasing the project's surface area.
+/- The project has the largest budget according to the cost/m² ratio.
+/- The use of lumber as the main structure in relation to costs.
- The fragmentation of interior spaces in relation to the flexibility of layouts and their essential functional links.
+/- The Lantern and its importance in the overall composition and on the main street.
+/- The path between the covered outdoor parking area and the North-South axis.
+/- The presence or impact of the skylight at the heart of a space that already seems well fenestrated.
- The interior organization, which is highly overspecialized, seems difficult to redevelop and lacks long-term flexibility.
+/- The white treatment of the lantern in relation to the context.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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- Presentation Panel Excerpt
