This university project was developed in two phases.

-  The first part was about understanding the general atmosphere of Montreal, I emphasized my attention on interesting architectural details. From my analysis, two characteristics struck me the most: the repetition of motifs and shapes and the mix of order and messiness. To start designing, I developed these ideas into a simulacrum, a model that describe these notions. I got really interested how the site could actually become the center of the design.

-  We were then assigned a site at Outremont, a complicated one, where cultures and eras interlink. I used the axis, given by the connections between buildings, the views, the reference points and the history to start carving in the site. The point where an axis hits the site is created a view. The carved openings are based on verticality and lightness (in reference to the church St Viateur) and the shell is made to look heavy by emphasizing the layering of the load bearing brick walls (in reference to local building traditions). As for the interior, I tried to find new connections between space and activities. If all relationships between people and activities are clarified, interesting features can be developed in the connections of spaces. (light, circulation, privacy, display...) The client specified he would like a music room to listen to Wagner. So I tried to design the room to accomodate acoustically Wagner's operas. To do so, I developed the three main features of Wagner's opera house: the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.