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Biosphère

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Address:    160 Chemin Tour-de-l'Isle
Montreal, QC, H3C 4G8
District:     Île Sainte-Hélène
Phone:    (514) 283-5000
Built in:    1967
Height:    62.8 meters (205.984 ft)
Hours:    Jun 1 through Oct 31
Mon-Sun: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Nov 1 through May 31
Tue-Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Mon: closed
 

Profile

Built by Buckminster Fuller for the World Expo of 1967, the sphere became the symbol of an epoch in Montreal - a logo of sorts, representing the optimism of the "new" Quebec and "new" Montreal. It is, without a doubt, an important contemporary architecture landmark. Today, the Biosphère houses the museum of water and the environment.

Access

The Jean-Drapeau station on the yellow line.

Trivia

  • The largest spherical building in the world
  • It actually consist of two spheres, one inside the other, with about one meter between them.
  • Built as the United States pavilion during for Expo '67.
  • A 1976 fire set off by repair work destroyed the acrylic skin of the structure. (It only took about 20 minutes).
  • Rebuilt in 1994 with the original structure intact

For More Information

Email: info.biosphere@ec.gc.ca
Web: www.biosphere.ec.gc.ca

Information last updated: 13/Nov/2008

Photos

Biosphere
Biosphere

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