THE SUNFLOWER AFFAIR
The Central District, located in the heart of the Montreal metropolitan area, covers 3 km². A former industrial hub, it still bears the scars of its past activities: vast concrete or vacant areas, a lack of mobility connections, and a predominance of automobiles and trucking. Despite a high concentration of jobs, the pedestrian experience remains uncomfortable, even dangerous. Yet this area has considerable resilience potential, capable of supporting a sustainable and regenerative transformation. The project is divided into three phases over five years.
CLIENT :
SDC District Chabanel
LOCATION :
Montréal, QC
YEAR :
2023
AREA:
3 km²
DISCIPLINE :
DÉVELOPPEMENT URBANISTIQUE
PHOTO/3D :
Lorelei L'Affeter / Stephanie Leduc / Magalie Lafleur / Carolyn Kelly-Dorais
In 2022, in the wake of the City of Montreal's reflections on urban regeneration, we chose to revisit the history of the site: this essential textile territory was once a vast field. Our intervention plan aims to reconcile this agricultural and industrial past with its current activity centers and its natural landscape potential. For the consortium created by Humà, Zaraté Lavigne and EN TEMPS ET LIEUX, the objective is clear: to articulate strong and sustainable interventions throughout the Central District in order to give it metropolitan influence.
MOMENTUM 1 – Germination: planting a field of 10,000 sunflowers on the vacant site of 50-150 Louvain, a 4-hectare urban wasteland marked by industrial and military history. This symbolic intervention brings the countryside back to the city, creates local ecotourism, educates city dwellers about agricultural vocabulary, and regenerates biodiversity. Custom-made furniture, inspired by the site's textile and industrial past, provides spaces for rest and contemplation.
MOMENTUM 2 – Contamination: within a five-minute walk, four other sites can become signature sites. This phase proposes to forge new connections between these isolated spaces, through pedestrian paths, identity signage, and strong territorial marking.
MOMENTUM 3 – Pollination: The final phase consolidates the land, landscaping, and access routes to gradually transform the area into a more porous, green, and welcoming space. It aims to provide a safe and pleasant walking experience while generating economic synergy by repurposing vacant public and private spaces.
Thus, the Tournesol Affair, the central district's signature territorial plan, proposes a landscape and signage language capable of transforming a heterogeneous territory into a vibrant, green, and inclusive environment, reconciling industrial heritage, ecological potential, and quality of urban life.
