A place of gathering and opening on the city, the territory and the history
"The wind has risen in the night and we can now feel a long cold breath coming from the Lièvre River, eternal witness of our history.
Excerpt from "Histoire de Mont-Laurier - Tome 1", Luc Coursol, 1985
Few cultural institutions enjoy a site as exceptional as that of the future multifunctional performance hall of Mont-Laurier. Indeed, in the natural and historical context of the site of the rapids of l'Orignal, true geographical heart of the foundation of the city, the future complex must emphasize this place of gatherings, imprinted with a history truly attached to its territory, to the water and to the forest.
By its privileged position on this promontory, the multifunctional hall asserts its role as a community, cultural and social catalyst. It becomes at the same time the backdrop of the cathedral and a viewpoint on the Lièvre River; a point of convergence of the city's itineraries; a place of formal and informal gathering; a memory of the builders and a window open on the future through the audacious use of wood, the community's living heritage.
ENHANCEMENT OF THE CATHEDRAL AND THE RIVER
The territory and history on display
From the very beginning of our appreciation of the site, our understanding of the potential for interrelationship with the territory, the cathedral and the downtown area motivated our conceptual approach and its development. Like a "hyphen", the Mont-Laurier multifunctional hall project opens up towards the city and the river, highlighting to the south, the links with the cathedral and the cultural pole of the historic downtown, and to the north, the close and distant views towards the Lièvre River, the bridge, the rapids of the Moose and the neighborhood of the same name.
Thus, the project develops in three new volumes that requalify the entire site and define, with the cathedral, a true public square, on the scale of the city and its ambitions. The multifunctional room (1), the reception area (2), the animation room (3) and the public square now compose, with the cathedral, a new coherent and multipurpose urban space. This new ensemble constitutes a diversity of gathering places, both interior and exterior, as well as a richness of routes offering a unique history and landscape.
Arriving from Rue du Pont, one can see the raised foyer of the multi-purpose room and the animation room. Generously open, they become signal elements visible from the street and the downtown area, but also from the neighborhoods on the other side of the river, marking the presence of the cultural institution in the urban landscape. Their position and their respective sizes respect the predominance of the cathedral and contribute to the animation of the site and of the new public square.
Positioned slightly back on the site, the volume of the multifunctional hall is oriented in an axis linking the preserved façade of the original cathedral and the territory of the Lièvre River. On either side, large glass walls offer exceptional views of the landscape and the cathedral.
In continuity with rue Bellerive, the public square welcomes us from rue du Pont and leads us to its center, a hub of outdoor activities where the main entrance of the multifunctional complex, the entrance and the steps of the cathedral square and those leading to the roof of the basilica and the terrace of the foyer meet. Facing each other, these steps define the stage of an outdoor agora, which can also be used for open-air shows on the cathedral square and the basilica roof.
From downtown, one can reach the heart of the public square in different ways: by Bellerive Street; by Madonna Street, crossing the cathedral square; by du Pont Street or by Chapleau Street. Before entering the great hall, one can stroll in the sun on the steps of the agora or climb onto the roof terrace of the basilica, to enjoy the new views of the cathedral, the city and the landscape. Benefiting from an optimal south-facing sunlight, these outdoor public spaces organize the access and pedestrian circulation on the whole site.
RICHNESS OF THE AMBIENCE + CLARITY OF THE ROUTE
You are in Mont-Laurier and nowhere else!
Accessible from the public square and the parking lot located at the back, the hall is located in the center of the complex, between the multipurpose room and the animation room, making it possible to hold two events simultaneously.
In the same logic of enhancing the context and the public square, we opted for an open and generous interior organization, which evolves around the new hall, its reception counter and its atrium. Its central position, as well as its vertical extension through the atrium, allows the main functions of the building to be clearly and quickly distinguished.
Thus, the new lobby sets the tone, facilitates orientation and recognition of the premises. Upon entering, a majestic and inviting staircase literally draws the public into the foyer on the upper level. Once in the foyer of the main hall, one finds oneself in a warm, calm and restful place. While waiting for the show to begin, you can watch the bustle of the square with a distracted eye or rediscover the cathedral and the landscape from new angles.
In order to personalize the interior of the great hall and make it a unique and identity place, we propose that the back of the stage be also largely glazed so that several events can take full advantage of the beauty of the landscape. Imagine, for example, the added value for a hunting and fishing show, or for a large conference on the aboriginal history of Quebec. Nowhere else will this atmosphere and this panorama exist. We must seize the opportunity.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
Due to the significant overrun of the budget cost submitted by the finalist, the jury members agreed as follows:
In order to evaluate this performance, it is necessary to admit and consider the finalist's written proposals to decrease the submitted costs. Otherwise, it is useless to evaluate the service as it is clear that the DDO cannot commit to such costs. All the members agree and accept to apply the proposed solutions and stated in the texts presented. These solutions make it possible to estimate the cost overrun in the same order of magnitude as those of the other two finalists.
The members of the jury raised the following main points regarding B+G's performance:
- The research, background work, and impact analysis demonstrated in this submission deserves recognition as a most successful urban approach.
- This project has the potential to make history in the City. It embraces the Cathedral and offers rich views on a human scale.
- The building is less exciting than its location. The framing of its facades represents an overused architectural gesture.
- All of the required parking should have been planned on the site of the performance hall.
- The most audacious and at the same time most penalizing gesture is the detachment of the animation room from the main core. Thus, it can no longer support the activities of the main auditorium, in addition to significantly complicating the circulation and handling of equipment.
- The multiplication of stairs reminds the DDO of the unhappy hours spent on the stairs of their current facilities.
- The use of wood in a curtain wall system is not a wise choice considering that the expertise in this process is European and has no equivalent in America.
- The retention points for people are rather difficult to determine as the whole looks more like a sequence of transit spaces, both exterior and interior.
- The curved seating rows are interesting but raise questions about the flexibility of transforming the room and the associated costs.
- The presentation of the project during the interview would have benefited from a better balance of time in different themes. The urban approach took too much space to the detriment of other aspects of the project.
- Because of the many functional deficiencies of this project, the jury members were unanimous in deciding to withdraw and not submit this project in comparison to the other two.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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