site description
friday april 15, 2005:
- be in direct relation with the city
- be in linked to the water
- be easily accessible: by car, walking, biking, ...
- be able to accommodate the space for a multi function building: public space, pools, park, exposition area, aquariums, ...
tuesday march 1, 2005:
- be part of the city
- be talking about water
choice of site
the site should be in a city where i can repeatedly go there and get the feel of it. montreal was the best choice since there was no need of long trip to get there, i could just decide to take the metro one afternoon and go.
i found many site interesting in the city of montreal.
4 sites where particularly getting my attention:
- the Olympic park: this site was link to my first idea as program (see program and concept one, aquarium + aquatic facility)
- the corner of metcalfe and maisonneuve: this site links to my first idea of where it should be situated
- the alexandria peer: this site covers all my demands about what i am looking for until a certain degree
- st. helen island: this site covers all my demands about what i am looking for as a site
olympic park site
there is an empty spot situated between the olympic stadium, the underground parking and the starcité movie theater.
this site was quite interesting at the moment of my first idea of program and concept because of the link it could creates between the olympic stadium, sports, and the biodome, museum: the aquarium is the part related to the biodome and the aquatic facility is the on that link to the sport.
this site was put aside because of its low proximity to water and its link to the city which was also not really strong (too much east).
site evaluation chart
corner maisonneuve and metcalfe site
this practically empty site (one old restaurent and parking) in middle downtown area was a good site that was answering my desire of being part of the city, being situated in its heart.
this site was really interesting by its situation in the core of the city and the possibility that was in it of bring more people to a more sensitive understanding of water and of its importance.
this site was put aside because it had no link with water directly.
site evaluation chart
view site plan here - scale 1 : 1000
alexandria peer site
this site is a peer situated close to the entry of the lachine canal.
it is interesting by its proximity to water, its link to the city and its superficy that allows the construction of a multi function facility.
it has been put aside because of the stagnant quality of the water, at this point i decide to opt for a site that is close to a flow of water.
site evaluation chart
view site plan here - scale 1 : 2000
st.helen island site
this site is situated on the st.helen island, close to the biosphere and giving straigth on water facing the downtown area.
the proximity of water flow, the easy accessibility by metro and bridge, the possibility of taking the superficy necessary and the link that could be created with the city made that site perfect for the project i have in mind. the fact that it is a public park and that the main part of my project is a public space (see program) links the two things together.
site evaluation chart
view the csite plan here - scale 1 : 5000
site pictures
city views - day and night
st.helen island views
monument close to site
interesting material effect around site