In accordance with the requirements of the competition, this plan has been developed to provide a controlled framework within which the development can be constructed.
The main concept inherent in the plan is the development of a pedestrian promenade along the of the Bassin Louise, a major public space that is defines the Bassin and orients public activity towards it. This promenade is reinforced by the inclusion of commercial spaces in the adjacent structures. These structures create a façade that separates the public space from semi-private spaces created for the inhabitants. In addition each living unit has a balcony providing private space and completing the hierarchy from public to private spaces.
Generally two levels of underground parking are provided under the housing elements, one-half level above and one-half level below the existing grade at street level. Due to the drop in elevation from street to Bassin the lower parking level is at the same elevation as the Bassin edge. The promenade is at the same elevation as the lower parking level with the commercial spaces incorporated into this level and serviced from it.
The materials to be used include locally available brick, concrete, and glass. Generally the structures at the promenade level utilize brick, with glass for the commercial spaces. The use of brick in all pedestrian areas provides the appropriate texture and scale. The housing structures are of precast concrete panels providing speed of erection.
Generally the plan is composed of four district areas or units generally describes as follows.
1. East Housing Unit between Saint-Andre Street and the Bassin - consist of the low scale housing elements that relate in height and scale to the buildings in the historic area to the south. The housing elements adjacent to the promenade separate the public space from the housing and include stepped roof terraces as semi-private spaces for use by the inhabitants. These terraces are oriented to create contact with the public space to the north and with the semi-private spaces in the south.
This housing unit includes the required commercial space (3% of the build area). This commercial space juts out towards the Bassin in a semi-circular form in order to emphasize the beginning and end of the promenade.
The four housing blocks to the south include 2 storey townhouses at grade and standard apartment units above.
This housing unit includes a total of 258 one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom dwellings with one level of underground parking for 325 cars.
2. The Public Market is located so as to be fully integrated into the pedestrian promenade and is accessible from all sides. A light roof structure provides protection for the vendors and customers. A strong vertical element (monument) is located adjacent to the Bassin to provide a contrast to the strong horizontal appearance of the market.
3. West Housing Unit at the west end of Bassin Louise - consists again of low scale housing elements adjacent to the promenade with space provided at the promenade level for future commercial spaces or other public activities. Stepped roof terraces again provide semi-private spaces. The large housing units to the west are semi-circular in shape to emphasize the strong axis created by the Bassin itself, in the semi-private space between the housing units is located the ports facility, accessible from both the public space of the promenade and the private dwellings adjacent.
This housing unit includes a total of 112 studio, one bedroom and two bedroom dwellings with two levels of underground parking for a total of 140 cars.
4. North Housing Unit between Abraham Martin St. and the Bassin consists again of low scale housing elements adjacent to the promenade with space provided at the promenade level for future commercial spaces or other public activities. Stepped roof terraces again provide semi-private spaces. The large housing units to the north provide a buffer to the north.
This housing unit includes a total of 332 studio, one bedroom and two bedroom dwellings with two levels of underground parking for a total of 415 cars.
(From competitor's text)
Given this perspective, the jury was particularly appreciative of the winning project for the excellent implantation of the different components of this development programme. These components place the greatest emphasis on the body of water, thus making the Louise Basin the focal point of the entire plan. The jury also noted the quality of the hierarchical control displayed in the different scales of the project. In order to better explain what 1 mean, 1 would like to point out the pedestrian scale which was given top priority ail around the basin and the height of the buildings on the city side - as weil as the scale of the silos on the north si de - which, moreover, contributed in giving the project a certain density.
Positioning the buildings on the south side perpendicularly to the main axis of the project recalls the historical location of the former quays and directs the view from the city towards the basin while giving ail residents a full panorama of both the pasin and the upper and lower town. On the north si de of the basin, the distribution of the housing units creates a screen against the prevailing winds. Ali the units in this sector are oriented both towards the sun and the unobstructed view of North America's only walled city.
The jury also emphasized the unity and the excellent integration of the other components of the project, such as the market and the recreational centre. The strong architectural expression of the head of the basin highlights the line of its main axis and gives the view of the harbour and of the city its full value.
Finally, the accepted proposai allows a great deal of leeway in its realization, thus conforming to the goal which the Canada Lands Company had set; that is, a visual plan capable of guiding the initiative of the private sector yet still allowing a certain flexibility in its adaptation so it can conform to the desires of the market and therefore make the project commercially profitable.
(From jury report)
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