The building unfolds behind a diaphanous screen of thousands of glass shards floating above the public thoroughfare, aligned with the facades of Saint-Laurent Boulevard. This screen is the first in a series of thresholds that visitors cross on their journey past exhibits which shift between light and dark, open and closed, tension and release.
If the scale and starkness of the facade demand respect and solemnity, the brightness and serene atmosphere of the adjoining garden communicate hope. Expressed as a continuation of the street, this garden invites passersby to step a little further. A few feet away, the courtyard of echoes marks a last physical and visual link between the outside world and the museum’s contents. The form and materials of the courtyard amplify every sense, providing the visitor with a moment of introspection.
The architectural concept, while abstract in its expression, is nevertheless attentive to the reality of sustainability concerns. The material of the facade itself, for example, is derived from recycled glass. Providing natural ventilation in summer and a second layer of insulation in winter, it acts as a solar wall to considerably reduce energy consumption. The street-front implementation of the garden, meanwhile, ensures the site’s drainage and the longevity of its trees, and minimizes heat islands.
