Tag: montreal-city | ArchDaily

Saving the City Fabric: Blanche Lemco van Ginkel and the Preservation of Old Montreal

Moises Carrasco — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

The architectural history of North American cities in the 20th century is often characterized by the pursuit of urban renewal. In the United States, Boston, Portland, and San Francisco are just some examples of when municipal governments prioritized high-speed vehicular infrastructure over the existing urban fabric. In Canada, Montreal would have followed this trajectory if not for the intervention of several figures throughout its history, most notably Blanche Lemco van Ginkel (1923–2022). A Harvard-trained planner and architect who, along with her husband Sandy Van Ginkel, advocated for the preservation of urban heritage while applying the principles of modernist infrastructure.

Transforming Row Houses: Heritage and Modernity in Montreal’s Historical Neighborhoods

Moises Carrasco — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Montreal, the second largest city in Canada is home to a wide array of heritage residential architecture, most of it dating to the 19th and early 20th-century. These are particularly abundant in some of its central neighborhoods like the Plateau Mont-Royal. Interestingly, their preservation is not accidental; it is the result of decades of advocacy by influential figures who recognized the value of the city's built environment, such as Phyllis Lambert and Blanche Lemco Van Ginkel. Efforts like theirs were instrumental in landmark preservation battles that helped to ensure current municipal support. Today, the city has implemented a set of comprehensive heritage protection laws designed to safeguard the integrity of the city's historic neighborhoods.

From Hospital to Medical Research Hub: How the Montreal Chest Institute Adapts to Modern Needs

Moises Carrasco — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

With modern medicine, it may be difficult for many people today to imagine the devastation caused by Tuberculosis (TB) just about 100 years ago. Initially associated with insalubrious, overcrowded conditions, just in Canada it caused the death of approximately 8000 people annually in the late 19^th century. During this time, before more advanced treatments were discovered, prescriptions from doctors involved sunlight, fresh air, and rest. As a response, sanatoria were established. These were places where patients could be separated from the community to manage their disease. One testament to that legacy stands in the heart of Montreal: the former Royal Edward Laurentian Institute, later known as the Montreal Chest Institute. Born from crisis, it has since become a symbol of resilience, transformation, and innovation, shifting from a space of isolation to a thriving hub for research and entrepreneurship in the life sciences.

When the World Came to Montreal: The Urban Legacy of Canada’s Expo 67

Moises Carrasco — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Canada's Expo 67 stands as one of the most successful world expos ever held, setting records and leaving an enduring impact on Montreal's urban landscape. As part of Canada's 100 years celebrations, the event provided an opportunity for the city to showcase its cultural and technological achievements on a global platform. With over 50 million visitors in just six months, it shattered attendance records, including an astonishing 569,500 visitors in a single day. An unprecedented feat for a world fair at the time. Now, 58 years later, and with the Osaka Expo 2025 set to showcase how to design the future society for our lives, it is worth revisiting the legacy of Expo 67 and exploring the urban transformations it brought to Montreal.

Saving Montreal’s Architectural Heritage: Phyllis Lambert’s Legacy of Community-Driven Change

Moises Carrasco — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Phyllis Lambert has been a key figure in the preservation of Canada's cultural heritage. As an architect and advocate for heritage conservation, Lambert has left an indelible mark in Montreal and other cities worldwide. Her contributions to Montreal's architectural scene can't really be judged in terms of individual buildings, but rather in terms of the city as a whole. She not only cofounded the Canadian Center for Architecture (CCA), but also helped reshape the way cities like Montreal think about heritage and the importance of community voices in urban planning.

Blending Heritage: Canada’s Integration of Revival Architecture and Modern Design

Moises Carrasco — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 07:30:00 +0000

The architecture in Canada has evolved to reflect both its European heritage and modern global trends while adapting to the country's environment. As Canada developed, architectural styles became a means to express its identity as an independent nation. This architectural development, especially in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, was influenced by colonial styles from Great Britain and France. While French colonial was more prominent in Quebec, British styles influenced the rest of the country.

The Craft of Brick Bonding: 4 Projects That Explore Textural Designs Adapted to Canada's Winter Conditions

Moises Carrasco — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Canada's climate is known for its dramatic contrasts, ranging from frigid winters to hot summers. Large metropolitan areas such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver experience a variety of extreme weather conditions: heavy snowfall, ice storms, and freezing temperatures are common. In some cases, temperatures can plummet to below -30 degrees Celsius, especially in cities like Montreal or Quebec. In turn, this weather creates certain challenges for architects and engineers when designing with certain materials. In this context, brick remains a popular construction material not only because of its relatively low thermal conductivity, making it a good insulator during the winter but also because of its connection to the country's architectural heritage.

Montreal Architecture City Guide: 15 Historic and Contemporary Landmarks in Canada’s Cultural Capital

Moises Carrasco — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Montreal, located along the Saint Laurent River in Southern Quebec, is Canada’s second-largest city. Often renowned for its architectural diversity, its built environment reflects both its colonial past and modern evolution. As a former territory of "Nouvelle France," French language and culture remain dominant, which has in turn influenced the city's architectural character. Notably, Old Montreal features well-preserved buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, most of which are a testament to the city’s industrial growth after the construction of the Lachine Canal. The area's heritage has been protected and restored through efforts by figures like Phyllis Lambert and organizations such as Heritage Montreal, allowing the city’s rich architectural history to coexist with its modern developments.

Architecture Classics: Habitat 67 / Safdie Architects

Gili Merin — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:30:00 +0000

Habitat 67, designed by the Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie as the Canadian Pavilion for the World Exposition of 1967, was originally intended as an experimental solution for high-quality housing in dense urban environments. Safdie explored the possibilities of prefabricated modular units to reduce housing costs and allow for a new housing typology that could integrate the qualities of a suburban home into an urban high-rise.

A Multidisciplinary Landscape Architecture Competition Generates a Biodiversity Corridor for Montréal

Christele Harrouk — Fri, 22 May 2020 06:35:00 +0000

The City of Montreal had launched a national, multidisciplinary landscape architecture contest, in order to generate an innovative scheme to reinstate natural habitats in the city. A team of four firms, civiliti, LAND Italia, Table Architecture, and Biodiversité Conseil, have won the competition, by creating a corridor that will enable the transition from a mostly asphalted, fragmented territory to a diversified urban landscape, connected to all living beings.

Chambord Residence / NatureHumaine

Daniel Sánchez — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:00:00 +0000

The client wanted to utilize the second storey of her 1920s duplex by converting her former rental unit into 3 bedrooms and an office space. While the grey-stone front facade only required minor restorations, the back of the house was transformed completely. An emphasis on transparency creates constant visual and physical connections with the backyard.

St-Zotique Residence / NatureHumaine

Jonathan Alarcón — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Concerned with architectural quality, we were hired in the hopes of constructing a multi-unit residential building that would stand proudly on the block. Situated in the historic industrial district of Marconi, the project comprises of 10 units spread over 3 floors, crowned by 4 mezzanines separated by a network of green roofs.

La Couleuvre / NatureHumaine

Nico Saieh — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:00:00 +0000

A young growing family was excited about the idea of enlarging the ground floor of their 5-plex situated in Rosemont-Petite-Patrie. As they wished to keep their upstairs tenants, the clients agreed to sacrifice a portion of their backyard for the extension.

Résidence Nguyen / Atelier Moderno

Daniel Sánchez — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Under the guidance of director and president Jean-Guy Chabauty (APDIQ, ADIQ), Atelier Moderno is a full-service design firm, delivering a finished product that incarnates a synthesis of architecture, interior design, and industrial design. The mandate of this project was simple and honest - to create a residence for a young couple who were ready to grow their family. The response led to the development of a reticent and spacious environment, refined at every scale of planning, architecture, and detail. A topography of volumes and materials affirms itself throughout, changing its presence and effect as one circulates within the home.

Inhabitable Sculpture / Jean-Maxime Labrecque

Fernanda Castro — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:00:00 +0000

The “inhabitable sculpture” project, which received two awards at the Grands prix du design 2011, is the result of four years of work executed by numerous fabrication and installation teams.

BLUE Communication Office / Jean Guy Chabauty + Anne Sophie Goneau

Diego Hernández — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 01:00:00 +0000

The task was to create a new office space for BLUE Communications, an interactive agency based in Montreal. Founded in 1998, the company specializes in web development, branding, content creation, ecommerce, social media, mobile apps and databases. Their 2750 sq.ft. corporate space is located in Montreal, on the 8th floor of the Carrefour d’Innovation INGO, previously serving as the brewing tower of the famous Dow Brewery.

The Beaumont House / Henri Cleinge

Diego Hernández — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Inspired to create a home to be experienced by all five senses, the Beaumont concrete house evolved as an exploration project. The design, understated, is situated in a mixed use neighborhood where residential duplexes coexist with small to midsize industrial buildings.

Irène / KANVA

Diego Hernández — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The urban housing project, Irène, located in Montreal’s borough, St-Henri, exemplifies innovation as a valuable design tool to individualize a building within the City. Perforated aluminium panels were customized into a novel exterior building envelope that screens the upper three storeys of an addition above an existing industrial building. Drawing an analogy with a theatrical curtain, the metallic skin acts equally to veil and to reveal the activity within, serving a performative function that adds a touch of spectacle to the neighbourhood.