TOHU
The Cité des arts du cirque project, situated on the south-eastern portion of the perimeter of the Saint-Michel environmental complex, brings together many organizations dedicated to the promotion of circus and related arts. The three main areas characteristic of the civic role this cultural entity plays are those of the circus, the environment and the community. As well, the new citizens of the Cité are now assembled in one single location and include: Cirque du Soleil, National Circus School, the circus arts national network En Piste, le Centre d'hébergement des artistes et le Chapiteau des Arts du Cirque. Beyond the limits of the urban skyline to the west, the École nationale de cirque introduces a new presence in the east; its massive volume affirms its commitment to create a new, fun atmosphere for the practice of circus arts.
Le Chapiteau des arts is somewhat of a keystone to the Cité group. It is the element that is at once the most public and the most civic. The tent project puts the building at the extreme west of the Cité in order to promote the presence of the Chapiteau as an important landmark. Running parallel to Jarry Street, the overhead, recycled steel rolling track is an urban element that links the members of the Cité des Arts du Cirque, plainly exhibiting a devotion to whimsical new undertakings.
Contained within a cylindrical space of 42 metres in diameter and 23 metres in height, the venue's strong presence with its inconsistent geometry marks the entrance from the highway.
The southeast and southwest facing walls are dedicated to passive heating (photovoltaic cells), providing elements on a metropolitan scale. The opening of the interior onto the exterior of the venue, in interaction with the Place du Chapiteau via the rolling track, is an eloquent demonstration of the permeability of the spaces. The exhibition space, the educational spaces, the CEMR and the office spaces aligned along the east-west axis share a water recuperation system that collects and filters surface and roof water. The lower and longer part of the building is rhythmically pitted with lines that gradually diminish and seem to slide in space. The wall, which is blanketed with vegetation, also serves as a backdrop to the Place du Chapiteau by forming a visual filter between the city and the Environmental Complex.
Completed in consortium with Schème consultants | Architect Jacques Plante | Jodoin Lamarre Pratte and Associates in consortium
Project date: 2002 to 2004
Surface Area: 4 800m2
Budget: $14 M
Team: Marc Laurendeau, Carlo Carbone, Michel Dupuis
Role: Contest, preliminaries
project date : 2002 to 2004
surface area : 4 800m2
budget : 14 M$
team : Marc Laurendeau, Carlo Carbone, Michel Dupuis
