Place des Débardeurs

With a view to revitalizing the Griffintown district, the City of Montreal commissioned civiliti, in collaboration with Axor Experts-Conseils, to draw up design concepts for the public domain. The multidisciplinary team developed design criteria, then designed and built several streets and public spaces in the neighborhood, including Place du Séminaire.

The square at the southern end of Séminaire Street transforms a former cul-de-sac into a veritable green oasis. It acts as a threshold between the neighborhood and the Lachine Canal linear park. An interplay of plant and mineral strata creates a transition from the city to the canal, following a pattern of obliques that evoke the district’s distinctive grids. Generously planted trenches collect rainwater, and tree planting accompanies the passageway. Small islands of distinctive furniture line the planted strips, inviting passers-by to stop and relax. Variations in ground materiality subtly integrate the constraints of accessibility to the emergency and maintenance vehicle corridor.