CONCEPT
Two radically different topographies merge into a place of convergence. An inclined plane floats at the heart of the site and constitutes the determining movement to which the concept is anchored. Thus, a floating and oblique meadow is delicately deposited on a complex and undulating topography. From this convergence emerges a complex system of spatial relationships where the places of commemoration for Montreal women are imprinted. Through these two strata, a dialogue is constructed between the underside and the top of the city, creating many intimate moments and evocative spaces, reminding us of the subtleties of Montreal, the place of women at the heart of the city's evolution, and celebrating the enthusiasm of the citizen who discovers its history and culture.
STRATIFICATIONS
The two topographies frame a series of thresholds linked to the context and draw the visitor to the discovery of a contemporary place. They form a framework that consolidates a complex stratification between architecture, landscape, artifacts and surrounding context. These converge in multiple nuanced experiences:
The experiential topography
This first layer, in response to the complexity of the site, undulates and modulates the spaces to resolve the technical issues of the existing conditions. The topography creates a refined narrative to organize connections, link spaces, and provide places of orientation for transiting users whether they be pedestrians on the move, subway riders, cyclists, or cars. Four distinctive spaces make up this plan: the urban amphitheatre to the southwest along St-Antoine Street, the multifunctional esplanade along Hôtel-de-Ville Avenue, the forest along Viger Avenue and the urban axis that runs along the CRCHUM visually linking Gosford Street and Sanguinet Street. At the center of this experiential layer is the second topography and fifth distinct space of the site, the inclined plane and its flowered meadow.
The inclined plane
The inclined plane constitutes the main conceptual gesture of the proposal. It is both a flower meadow and an oblique space for strolling. The plane rises towards the south to reach the Cité Administrative via a footbridge that is at once a stopping place, a gathering place, a belvedere on the city and a place for strolling. Through its obvious scale, the oblique plan dialogues with the monumental composition of the CHUM and CRCHUM and with the surrounding built environment. 400 circular perforations, available in 5 different formats and designed to promote plant growth and a constantly changing flowering, define the flower meadow. The space takes the measure of the passing time and allows visitors to wander freely while living an instructive, sensory and poetic experience. This object imposes itself in the landscape and becomes a bouquet of flowers offered as a tribute to the women who have marked Montreal's history. The flower meadow is the architectural signature of the square, uniting the experiential layers in a new place of identity. It improves the ecological quality of the surrounding area, enhancing wildlife biodiversity, affecting birds, bees and butterflies, encouraging picnickers, gardeners, artists and other citizens to make this place their own. Under the slope, a new environment is taking shape. An inverted and diversified topography challenges the motorist with an experiential spectacle from Saint-Antoine Street and the Ville-Marie Expressway exit ramp in a movement in true communion with the City. The recommended architectural system offers an enveloping and expressive kinetic experience. At the foot of the inclined plane, a blade of water springs up from the ground to bring freshness and animation between the metro station and the flowery field. Marcelle Ferron's glass roof is reflected in it and the sound of the water softens the atmosphere.
The forest
The forest, which defines the northern threshold of the site and the entrance from Viger Avenue, anchors the square within the city. This natural component is an important element of the site experience, inviting pedestrians to infiltrate the site to reach the metro and offering moments of coolness through the shade it provides. The trees and furniture elements inscribed in the punctuations of the overall matrix offer points of rest and introspection. The forest engages in a natural dialogue with the flower meadow, evoking the Quebec landscape and the emblematic tree species of Mount Royal.
The objects
This stratification is composed of a set of 3 symbolic architectural objects, one found, one transformed and one newly created. The found object is the Champs-de-Mars metro station. Its form and beauty are celebrated as it is the starting point of the matrix, dictating the geometry of the landscaping. The positioning of the flower meadow calls out to Marcelle Ferron's work, which is staged in all its splendor thanks to the alignment created. It can be observed from the footbridge from the Champs-de-Mars and its presence accompanies the pedestrian who strolls in the field and then in the forest.
The MTMDET kiosk is the transformed object. Although it remains untouched, it is transformed by the presence of a screen. It disappears behind an iconic cylinder, a reflective architectural envelope that blurs its presence. This is a key moment of commemoration, as on the forest side the reflective surface faces an intimate clearing in memory of Marie-Josèphe-Angélique where a single white pine is symbolically planted. The work becomes a backdrop for gatherings and events at the foot of the multifunctional esplanade. This place of attraction links the different components of the site in a single gesture: the forest, the flowered field and the station.
The newly created object is the memorial step. It becomes a primordial point of convergence in the experience of the square and emerges from the ground to propel the visitor to the center of the flowered field. On an urban scale, it enhances the views towards the Cité Administrative to the south, then towards the Champ-de-Mars station and the work of Marcelle Ferron to the north. The footbridge path goes around the step and the user can choose his way to discover the space.
COMMEMORATION
The commemoration of women is the unifying theme for all the landscape layers. The narrative that emerges from this composition is inspired by the work typically undertaken by women in the textile industry. It is characteristic of this evolution that saw her leave the home to engage in one of the first paid trades, devolved to Montreal women. Through this weaving, the project evokes the multiple destinies of Jeanne Mance, Marie-Josèphe-Angélique, Idola Saint-Jean, Ida Roth Steinberg, Agnès Vautier, Jessie Maxwell Smith, Myra Cree as well as the 14 victims of the École polytechnique. The mesh of plant and mineral creates a symbolic and unifying place, a metaphor that merges landscape, architecture and art in an experience of commemoration and contemplation. Moments of remembrance are expressed through this matrix, sometimes overtly and sometimes discreetly.
The imposing step in the center of the plaza is the main site of commemoration. There, the names of the 21 women rise gracefully, printed on the vertical face of the riser. The DIN text font, designed by a group of women, is used to inscribe the names. The space will become a natural meeting place and allow users to sit with the 21 Montreal women.
The circular perforations of the flower field become a more subtle place for commemoration. Quotes, important facts, dates and historical anecdotes are inscribed within the vertical wall of the perforations. These fragments of text appear and disappear as the seasons change with the transformation of the plants and the blooming periods and elicit discovery during the winter months.
The flower field is a more nuanced and subtle element of commemoration. It allows for a very different experience than the central walkway. The plants embody the past, present and future. The field embodies Montreal women and their contribution to the city's history, through a selection of 21 plants, one for each woman. The discovery of the flower meadow will both revive the memory of these significant women in the hearts of the city's citizens and arouse curiosity about these indigenous plant species that enrich our green spaces in a sustainable perspective. The project embraces the future, investing in the ecological wealth and biodiversity of the city.
A place of tension is inscribed between the forest and the cylindrical reflective screen in polished stainless steel and becomes the space dedicated to Marie-Josèphe-Angélique. On the wall of this screen, the words 'The Immortal Avatar of Liberation' are inscribed, becoming the starting point for a work of art, engraved and sculpted in French, English and Mohawk to symbolize the cultural diversity of Montreal women. An application created for smart devices will allow visitors to learn more about the history of each of the honoured women.
SPACES AND MOMENTS
The new space, a place of life and transit, offers an infinite number of intimate moments within the square, and an iconic gesture on the scale of the City. Distinct programming will animate the five spaces, offering activities at different scales to create moments filled with meaning.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
Stage 1
A strong identity and an eminently contemporary style characterize this project. The square brings a form of serenity, calm and poetry in the middle of the city's agitation. It invites contemplation.
The proposal related to the commemoration is well articulated, both in terms of the conceptual gestures and the symbolism of the flowery meadow. There is a desire to tell the story of women and to honor them. Although it still needs to be refined, a great deal of sensitivity emerges from the commemorative approach.
The proposal stands out in terms of its experiential and perceptual qualities. The flowered field acts as a belvedere and offers a multitude of views towards downtown and the Cité administrative. The experience of wandering and immersion on the inclined plane is rich.
In terms of integration, this service is the only one that truly repairs the scar left by the construction of the Ville-Marie Expressway and its exit ramp. Despite the abandonment of the project to partially cover the Saint-Antoine ramp by the City, the team was able to maintain the main idea of its proposal from Stage 1 and clearly attenuate the presence of the ramp by constructing an inclined plane that "floats" above it.
The oblique topography that allows the north and south links to be rewoven is innovative but presents several technical and administrative/standard challenges, mainly in relation to the authorizations that will be required from the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports (MTMDET). The members of the jury also pointed out that the imposing inclined plane, although it clearly contributes to the experiential quality and influence of the square, limits the possibilities of appropriation of the site (on the flower meadow and on the other adjacent spaces).
A real landscape project emanates from the winning project. Its strong and contemporary identity, the successful integration of the ramp, as well as the rich commemorative intent to make this site "the place of Montreal women" are among the points that militated in its favour.
Stage 2
- Quickly deepen the design of the inclined plane to begin validation/negotiations with MTDET. This is the main challenge of the project.
- Present the iconic cylinder surrounding the engineered kiosk to MTDET to initiate validation/negotiation.
- Evaluate the minimum size required for the circular perforations in the flower meadow. One meter in diameter appears too small given the issues of sustainability and all-season maintenance of the plants. Proceed with the validation of prototypes if necessary and propose a maintenance plan for all seasons.
- Plan for universal accessibility in the flower meadow: the possibility of walking in the space must be possible for all. The configuration of the perforations/open spaces must be reviewed to allow at least one alternative path accessible to all (including parents with strollers and people in wheelchairs/AMM). A single universal pathway is not sufficient for the project in order to prevent people with mobility impairments from being limited to crossing the Place des Montréalaises without stopping.
- Make one or more 1:1 scale prototypes of the inclined plane (in its southern part) to validate the quality of the concrete finish and access to the structure. The underside is as important as the surface. As the inclined plane is the strong conceptual gesture of the project, the City must be demanding as to the quality of its design/execution.
- Expand the circulation, walking and ownership spaces from the subway exit to the east, particularly the passageway (corridor) between the south face of the subway station kiosk and the beginning of the slope/water blade.
- Refine the interface (point of contact) between the incline/walkway and the Champ-de-Mars. The landing of the footbridge on the Champ-de-Mars must be done delicately.
- Deepen and improve the interface with Rue Saint-Antoine in the southern portion of the square, particularly because of the imposing presence of the inclined plane structure. This section is a weakness of the project: cul-de-sac and fragmented space to the east near St. Anthony, out of sight and possibly dark space on the St. Anthony sidewalk (under the incline), sunken portion in the southwestern portion. The insertion of a service building in this section provides a partial animation of the place, but moves the services away from the central space of the square, located on the north side of the ramp. A reflection is expected on this subject. The site near Saint-Antoine Street must be user-friendly, safe and encourage maximum appropriation to avoid incivilities and unwanted occupations. To this end, the jury recommends referring to the Guide pour un aménagement urbain sécuritaire (Guide to Safe Urban Design) and consulting groups of Montreal women who are working to increase the safety of women in public spaces.
- Refine the commemorative aspect and ensure that it is perceptible in all seasons, as well as the cultural aspect (artistic showcase) with the City's services and the organizations concerned (including the Conseil des Montréalaises).
- Integrate, as the City of Montréal has committed to do, a gender-based and intersectional analysis of the place of Montréal women throughout the design, plans and specifications, implementation and monitoring stages of the project. This will make it possible, among other things, to make the commemorative aspect and the appropriation of Place des Montréalaises accessible to all, for example by providing a Braille reading of the names of the women commemorated, by adding a pathway in the meadow so that everyone can get there, etc.
- Make the multifunctional space adjacent to Hôtel-de-Ville Avenue more mineral. This space should be reworked to allow for free, spontaneous or organized activities. In return, make other areas of the site more permeable and vegetated to vary the experience and possibilities of appropriation around the flower meadow, particularly in the forest.
- Provide for the installation of mobile street furniture in the plaza, to encourage collective gatherings and flexibility.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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