Place
des gens de mer

Public square Public2014

This public square is situated in the heart of the village of Cap-aux-Meules, in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, on the ruins of a fish processing plant that was destroyed by fire. This project is the first of 13 exceptional sites in the Parcours insulaire, selected for their panoramic, landscape, and historical significance.

Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes

The project breathes new life into this strategic site and creates a space for people to gather. The Place des Gens de Mer is an initiative by the Municipality of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine to honor maritime workers.

The various functions of the square are situated on the foundations of the former fish processing plant. The arrangement of elements recalls the plant’s transformation chain and its long sorting tables. Despite its strategic location at the center of the port area, the immediate environment of the square is not very welcoming.

  • Photographe : Adrien Williams
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The concept is to create an introspective square that turns inward on itself. ↓
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
The undulating design evokes the impression of a turbulent sea. The square features a service pavilion, a lookout, a public market area, a stage, and an agora. Wooden counters and benches stretch and undulate, reminiscent of the docks. ↓
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
A slatted wooden fence extends around the site to ensure privacy and guide visitors through a journey of discoveries. ↓
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
From the Place, a poem by a local artist invites visitors on a journey, while at other sites, a storyteller narrates the history of the place. Eastern cedar and marine plywood are used for their durability in a saline environment. ↓
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes
Place des Gens de mer by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes