Place des Montréalaises
Lemay
Client: Ville de Montréal
Place des Montréalaises is a new urban landscape grand gesture in downtown Montreal that transforms a covered section of the Ville-Marie expressway into a vibrant gathering place. This transdisciplinary project merges architecture, landscape design, and art to reunify downtown Montreal with Old Montreal, two neighborhoods historically severed by highway infrastructure, while honoring 21 pioneering Montreal women through a living memorial. The Site and Its Purpose Located between the heritage of Old Montreal and the modernity of the downtown core, the site sits at a critical juncture in the city's fabric, adjacent to Montreal's City Hall. The project creates a safe pedestrian connection where none existed, completing a string of key public spaces aligned above the Ville-Marie expressway corridor. This long-awaited link allows residents and visitors to walk directly between neighborhoods through a succession of meaningful commemoration spaces. A Living Tribute The design team created a meadow composed of 86 perforations acting as an immense bouquet of flowers. Composed of 21 species of flowering perennials, each represents one of the 21 Montreal women celebrated: pioneers and victims who shaped this city through their courage and vision. These plantings flower sequentially throughout the seasons, transforming commemoration into a dynamic, year-round experience. Rather than static monuments, the project offers an evolving landscape where memory and daily urban life intertwine. Architectural Elements Three architectural gestures define the space: A polished stainless-steel cylindrical shroud acts as an inverted cloister honoring the 21 women of Place des Montrealaises. It sits along Marie-Josèphe Angélique. This reflective surface mirrors Montreal's skyline while inviting contemplation on the women’s history as victims and pionners as well as resistance and freedom. A monumental commemorative staircase carved through the site creating a dialogue between the flowery meadow and the commemorative mirror. Extracted letters from the mirror are engraved on the staircase creating a field of letters. This monumental gesture guides visitors toward the meadow, Champ-de-Mars, and Old Montreal. Above the staircase, the flowery meadow spreads throughout an inclined plane, acting as a strong celebration moment. It becomes a belvedere, a gathering space, a destination. Design and Structure The inclined plane employs a pre-stressed concrete slab with post-tensioning, chosen for its durability and ease of maintenance over active infrastructure. The irregular geometry of the superstructure integrates seamlessly with the urban surroundings while supporting diverse programmed areas. Visitors discover four distinct zones: an urban amphitheater for performances and gatherings, a multifunctional esplanade for events, a linear urban axis for circulation, and an urban forest providing shade and ecological habitat. Each area supports different activities while contributing to the unified landscape experience. Environmental Innovation The landscape system functions as ecological infrastructure, ensuring resiliency and adaptability. Trees, perennials and tall grasses were carefully selected to sustain flood, drought, sun, shade and wind while creating plant communities to increase biodiversity. Vegetated areas capture and filter rainwater reducing stormwater runoff while establishing green corridors within the dense urban core. A Space for All Montrealers Place des Montréalaises demonstrates how urban infrastructure can serve multiple purposes: connecting neighborhoods, honoring history, supporting ecology, and providing beautiful, accessible public space.