Page 50 - Designing Ways 258

LIGHTING

A Midsummer

Night's Dream

Montréal, Canada

or many cities around the world,
urban design has become the new
Fmantra. Montreal, UNESCO City
of Design, is fast becoming a leader in
terms of prioritising pedestrian activity
over vehicular traffic. The city, which
has spent a number of years revitalising
its urban infrastructures, is taking The inspiration The challenges
every opportunity to transform its Named after Monique Mercure (1930- The designers were faced with various
neighbourhoods, widening its sidewalks 2020), one of Quebec’s most celebrated functional and technical challenges as
and turning street intersections into small actresses, the concept was inspired by they tackled the project. Among other
gathering spaces or mini-gardens. the Art Deco style which characterises constraints, they had to make sure that
One of its most recent interventions, the adjacent 1929 Outremont Theatre. service trucks would be able to access
Place Monique-Mercure, is a vibrant This historic reference is perhaps best four manholes connected to an under-
example of this new urban trend. The firm understood when looking at the project’s ground electrical vault. Mobility issues
responsible for this recent project is civiliti, three lightboxes. The floral pattern and snow removal
known for its numerous urban design and reproduced on the sides and top of these requirements had to
landscape architecture projects that have lantern-like objects is a reinterpretation be taken into con-
had a profound impact on the fabric of of a wall motif found above the sideration as well.
Montreal over the last two decades. auditorium’s decorative pilasters. Artist
Emmanuel Biffa had designed these,
The programme as he collaborated with architect René
The programme called for a small urban Charbonneau on the 1929 theatre.
oasis with seating, lighting, and scenic
components. The site is a widened sidewalk
located just outside a historic Art Deco
theatre in the lively Outremont district.
Removing a few parking spaces along
the street allowed the designers to provide
neighbours and passersby with a place to sit,
chat, and enjoy street life. Free space around
the bench units can also accommodate
impromptu theatrical events.

50 Issue 258 • dw