L'Étrave : Tisser la communauté
Beaconsfield Multifunctional Cultural Center
Finalist Project

Architectural Competition Various projects2024

“I made my sky from a cloud, and my forest from a reed. I traveled my longest journey on a stream’s blade of grass. From a bit of cement: the city, from a puddle: the sea. From a pebble, I made my island [perhaps Montréal], from an icicle, I made winter.”

– Étraves, Gilles Vigneault

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The site of the new Multifunctional Cultural Center project runs along Beaconsfield Boulevard and is nestled between the marina and Centennial Park. The design aims to create a welcoming, memorable space that serves as an inviting hub for the community.

In collaboration with:

  • Saunders Architecture
  • OPTION aménagement
  • Stantec
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The project site celebrates a thoughtful interplay between its riverfront and the forest canopy overlooking the park. This duality creates a unique and dynamic ecotone, showcasing both the reality of the St. Lawrence shoreline and the richness of the forested ambiance. Positioned between Beaconsfield Boulevard and the marina, the project acts as a pivotal point where these worlds converge and boundaries blend seamlessly. ↓
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During the site exploration visit, an area of interest emerged from the connection between the green corridor leading down to Lake St. Louis, the visual opening toward the marina, and the intimate space located west of the beach. The height of the trees and the visual breaks created by their trunks also played a key role in the conceptual approach. Preserving this existing permeability was essential. The project weaves these diverse elements together to enhance the site’s inherent poetry and vibrancy. ↓
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The South Wing houses a dedicated space for children and their parents. La Barque, a partially sunken activity room situated in a transitional space between sky and earth, provides a versatile setting for various creative activities. Meanwhile, parents can observe from the periphery. The South Wing culminates in a south-facing terrace, offering a panoramic view of Lake St. Louis. ↓
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The proposed project seeks to unify the maritime and vegetative landscapes of this unique site. The maritime reference to the ship’s prow, inspired by the writings of Gilles Vigneault, evokes the image of a building floating at the water’s edge. The proposal envisions maritime heritage as a structuring element to root the program in its setting. With its strong symbolism, water becomes the connecting thread that shapes the architectural ambiance, anchoring the project to the site. Its presence on the site and within the design serves as a vessel for the collective memory that intimately ties the community to the Lake St. Louis space. ↓
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