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Montreal's contribution to modern architecture is considerable.
As early as the 1920's the city's industrial architecture won admiration
of Le Corbusier. But the real heyday of modernism in Montreal arrived in the
mid-20th century, accelerated by the Quiet Revolution. Many mistakes were made (the
razing of several downtown neighborhoods comes to mind), but the epoch
produced many landmarks.
In addition to attracting world-renowned architects like
I.M.Pei (Place Ville Marie)
and Mies van der Rohe
(the Westmount Square complex),
the city was the launching pad of many locally grown architects.
Both McGill University and the Université de Montreal have world-renowned
architecture programs.
Moshe Safdie is a graduate of McGill University.
- La Grande Biliothèque
 - 475, Boulevard de Maisonneuve Est
Built between 2001 and 2004 and officially inaugurated
in 2005, La Grande Bibliothèque is the main branch of the
Québec National Library and Archives (BNQ). It is visited
by thousands of people every day (estimates vary, but the
latest numbers indicate over 12,000 visitors daily).
- Place Ville Marie
 - 1 Place Ville Marie
Built between 1957 and 1962, the cruciform tower
was one of the first skyscrapers in Montreal.
- Canadian Centre for Architecture
- 1920 Rue Baile
Built around an existing structure (Shaughnessy House, visible
only from Boulevard René-Lévesque) which was bought out by the
Centre's founder, Phyllis Lambert, this museum contains a
collection of photos, drawings, prints and other artifacts.
Temporary exhibition space, a study and
a book store are located in the central section.
- Musée d'archéologie Pointe-à-Callière
- 350 Place Royale
Occupying the spot where the French explorers docked when they
arrived at what was to become Montreal, this triangular building
(whose shape evoking a silhouette of a ship), houses the
Musée d'archéologie et d'histoire de Montréal - the only sizeable
archeology museum in the country. (The museum actually
occupies several buildings, the Pointe-à-Callière being
the main one, marking the museum's entrance).
Built for the celebrations of the
350th anniversary of the city, the Pointe-à-Callière is considered one of
the better examples of post-modern buildings in the city.
- ITHQ
- 3535 rue St-Denis
Originally a rather unattractive Brutalist building, the ITHQ was
redesigned in 2005 by the architects of Lapointe Magne and
Aedifica. The new "skin" has a dual role - it gives the building
a more attractive "shell" and actually helps conserve heat (not
a trivial use considering Montreal's climate).
- Biosphère
- 160 Chemin Tour-de-l'Isle
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.
- Habitat 67
- 2600 Avenue Pierre-Dupuy
Commissioned by the city for World Expo 67, this groundbreaking housing
complex by then very young architect
Moshe Safdie elicits contractictory
emotions from Montreal visitors and residents alike. Some praise its
unique concept, valuing privacy, access to the city center, versatile apartment
shapes providing multiple exposures and a patch of green space ("everybody gets
a rooftop garden!"), street-like configuration of its
hallways and amazing views afforded by its location. Others criticise
the stern fortress-like look and point out that the project essentially failed
as a stand-alone housing community (because of the unexpectedly
high cost of engineering, the complex was only partially built).
One thing is certain, nobody is indifferent.
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- 1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Founded in 1860, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal)
shows the work of Canadian and international artists. It is Montreal's largest
museum.
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