All Wanderings Lead Here
The approach to the sports center is a sensory experience, a flowing ascent where accessibility and beauty intertwine. The wishbone-shaped ramp unfurls from Boulevard Édouard-Montpetit and the metro below, its gentle curves encouraging a slow, deliberate arrival. For those emerging from underground, a spiral ramp ascends in a rhythmic dance, framing glimpses of the city and Les Jardins below. Resting nooks invite pause, while tactile braille walls and a soft murmuring water path guide visitors with visual impairments, turning way-finding into an art form.
Beneath the ramp, a hidden layer of functionality hums quietly, a sheltered storage space for adaptive vehicles, bikes, and scooters, ensuring seamless transitions for all. The urban spine weaves through the building, drawing visitors upward to the reception on the third floor, where light spills in and the city feels both near and beautifully distant.
This is more than a path, it's an invitation. Every curve, every texture, every resting place express: You belong here.
2 PRINCIPLES
Design that is seen, felt, and heard, ensuring no one navigates by memory alone.
Design for dignity--crafted to ensure effortless, intuitive access, transforming movement into an inclusive sensory experience.
(From competitor's text)
The proposal creates a very long ramp, clearly presented and easy to understand, promoting "invisible" accessibility and equity. The ramp is interesting and respectful of the constraints of the existing buildings, with minimal intervention. However, the circular ramp is problematic and would be difficult for people with disabilities to navigate. The length of the ramp would also make it challenging. The overall design is considered playful and fun, but not very practical, with a high score on all criteria except innovation.
(From jury report)
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