Îlot des Palais
2006
Québec City, Quebec, Canada- Architecture for culture, research, sport or leisure
- Complexes
Launched in 2006, the competition Îlot des Palais in Québec aimed to restructure a very important heritage site which includes the remains of a French Intendant's Palace (1760). The fact that this site had no previous heritage value attributed to it, despite of its striking proximity to the city fortifications, has been the subject of many case studies aiming to highlight its historical and archeological importance within the city of Quebec. With this competition, the city of Quebec wished to provoke the creation of a new cultural and tourist attraction. The competition program required the creation of an archeology/history centre housed in two sustainable pavilions placed on top of the Palace remains and enclosing a garden and an honorary courtyard.
In order to qualify, the competitors had to demonstrate significant experience in design of head offices within the Quebec region. The city was responsible for taking care of the initial phase architectural services of the winning team pertaining to the placement of the first pavilion as well as the temporary landscaping. The first phase of the project was to be completed for Quebec's 400th anniversary, while the second phase, more focused on the permanent urban design of the site as well as the Palace reconstruction, was to be carried out at a later date.
The competition wrap-up was marked by an illegal publication of altered images of the winning proposal. This incident took place prior to the belated exhibition of the competition entries creating an upheaval amongst the involved teams, as documented in the May, 2007 ARQ article by the professional competition advisor Jacques White. Originally presented by the municipality as a key element for the 400th anniversary celebrations in Quebec city, the project has recently been put on hold by the new mayor Régis Labeaume.
(CCC text)
In order to qualify, the competitors had to demonstrate significant experience in design of head offices within the Quebec region. The city was responsible for taking care of the initial phase architectural services of the winning team pertaining to the placement of the first pavilion as well as the temporary landscaping. The first phase of the project was to be completed for Quebec's 400th anniversary, while the second phase, more focused on the permanent urban design of the site as well as the Palace reconstruction, was to be carried out at a later date.
The competition wrap-up was marked by an illegal publication of altered images of the winning proposal. This incident took place prior to the belated exhibition of the competition entries creating an upheaval amongst the involved teams, as documented in the May, 2007 ARQ article by the professional competition advisor Jacques White. Originally presented by the municipality as a key element for the 400th anniversary celebrations in Quebec city, the project has recently been put on hold by the new mayor Régis Labeaume.
(CCC text)