Inside Montreal’s “Grand Urban Gesture”
A couple of weeks ago, Midnight Poutine reported that Montreal’s new central library, the Grande Bibliothèque, has won first place in the 2007 Library Building Awards. “At once urban, human scaled, and extraordinarily open, the building succeeds by its exquisite use of materials and detailing both inside and outside,” wrote the jury. “There is a peaceful, tranquil feel that provides a welcome contrast to its grand urban gesture, masterfully executed.” The awards, which are jointly sponsored by the American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association, are given biennially to “the finest examples” of new library design by architects licenced in the United States.
When I first reviewed the Grande Bibliothèque after its opening in May 2005, I wrote that its “ugly” exterior, which “wouldn’t look out of place in a suburban office park,” was redeemed by the library’s interior beauty and functionality. Two years on, my feelings towards the library have grown only warmer. I am still ambivalent about the building’s green-glass façade, but I am impressed by its sensitivity to the surrounding streetscape. The library’s main entrance surrounds a small plaza that is constantly filled with people—despite the fact that it is almost always in the shade. On any given day in the warm months, dozens of bicycles are parked around the plaza. To the west, another entrance opens onto the intersection of two laneways, one of which leads to busy St. Denis Street. In recent months, a new café was installed here, and in the future the retail spaces that line this side of the library are meant to host some sort of book market.
What I love most about the Grande Bibliothèque is that it has so quickly been embraced by Montrealers. The decision to locate it at the corner of Berri and Maisonneuve, on top of the city’s main metro hub, next to a large university and alongside a major bicycle route, was genius. Without fail, the library is busy—and not just busy, but packed—whenever I visit. In fact, the library has been more popular than anyone expected, drawing an average of 12,000 visitors per day. The diversity of the people who use it is remarkable: this is probably the single Montreal institution that brings together a truly representative cross-section of the city’s population. I don’t think it is possible for any Montrealer to feel out of place when he or she visits the Grande Bibliothèque. In a city that is too often split along linguistic and ethnic lines, that, more than anything, is a testament to its success.
The building’s foyer, on the right, connects the library itself with a basement exhibition space, meeting rooms, lockers and a café. It also includes a direct entrance to Berri-UQAM metro
The library’s central atrium, staircase and glass elevators
Scenes from the stacks and various reading areas
Each side of the library is flanked by these large descending study areas
The library’s map collection is housed in a bright, open space
This laneway, slated to be redeveloped, connects the library’s western entrance to St. Denis Street. Photo by Kate McDonnell
At the library’s western laneway entrance is a café and public gathering area. Photo by Kate McDonnell
On the library’s north side is a garden that often hosts public events, such as this video art installation
Tags: Libraries, Montreal
Patrick says:
I share your views about the library. It’s certainly grown on me. The interior is great. The exterior still seems very boxy and particularly unimaginative–those horizontal slats are a bit overused these days. They’re number 2 on my top 10 list of “least favourite things about turn-of-the-millennium” architecture, right after “raw” concrete columns. Nevertheless, it looks ok at night when all lit up.
Hey… we should start a series about libraries. I’ve got one coming up soon.
May 19th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
place Emilie-Gamelin’s evolution « urban-ism says:
[...] music store and fast food restaurants, to the hotel des gouverneurs at place dupuis, to the grande bibliotheque nationale. The development of this range of activity is closely related to the square’s role as a [...]
October 14th, 2007 at 1:09 am