Revitalization of Sainte-Catherine Street West and Phillips Square
REVITALIZATION AND REDEVELOPMENT
For more than two centuries, its development has been in step with the eclectic pace of the city and its colourful inhabitants.
In downtown Montreal, Sainte-Catherine Street West, as well as Phillips Square and Place du Frère-André, blends the past and the present. Architects the world over have built their works along it, leaving behind an architectural heritage that is as rich as it is full of contrasts. Informed by the desire to bolster the street’s singular identity, the urban redevelopment both streamlined and structured the street and its surroundings. Thoughtful design made the business artery the common thread between the various public spaces and historical buildings that line it, thus promoting economic vitality, the user experience, a festive ambience and ecomobility. It also highlighted the important role the department stores and landmark stores played in the emergence and commercial success of this legendary street.
Photography
Adrien Williams
Landscaping
Provencher_Roy
Other Collaborators
Ingénieur fontainier - François Ménard
Urban furniture
Michel Dallaire
Country
Canada
City
Montréal
Client
Ville de Montréal
Surface Area
13,000 m²
Year
2020
Shared Street
The design concept unfolds through a unifying, symbolic and informative gesture..
With its shared lane with no parking space and sidewalks six to eight meters wide, the project places the pedestrian at the heart of the public space. On the ground, the pavement unfolds from one facade to another through the graphic figure of the equalizer, which represents the continuous effervescence of the street. Elegant, sleek and discreet street furniture, custom-made by renowned industrial designer Michel Dallaire, contributes to the uniqueness of the site. It makes walking pleasant and safe, while de-cluttering the street and multiplying the views of its architectural heritage.
The Phillips Square
The revisited garden
Phillips Square is being restored to its original scale by increasing its area and tree cover, and by The garden is revisited according to the historic form of the square: a rectangular island coupled with two intersecting axes. The cross-shaped figure suggests crossing the square by the shortest route, from one end to the other, discovering the public space in its center, where the monument to Edward VII is located. The proposed geometry accentuates this movement. The presence of water is also revealed by the conversion of the plant base of the Edward VII monument into a water feature.
Sustainable development
The comprehensive approach to sustainable development addresses environmental issues and the sustainability of the new developments.
The preferred actions include the integration of universal accessibility devices, the decontamination of certain spaces, the selection of local materials and the increase in vegetation cover, which also helps to reduce the effects of heat islands in the downtown area. Overall, the rehabilitation project reconnects many of the links that have been lost over the decades, connecting history to modernity; green spaces to the public realm; and providing a street for all citizens, regardless of their mobility.
