Archives: Billets

ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS, PROMOTION OF EXCELLENCE AND CRITICISM OF OUR INSTITUTIONS: THE ROLE OF THE RAIC THROUGHOUT HISTORY

  How can we simultaneously promote quality in architecture, represent the interests of Canadian architects, and criticize our democratic institutions, especially when a federal government chooses to overturn a competition jury’s decision in favor of a public vote? This research essay examines the historical role of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) in addressing … Read more

ABOLISHING AWARD CATEGORIES GUARANTES NEITHER FAIRNESS NOR OPENNESS

  In this post we share some thoughts on updating the architectural excellence awards evaluation framework in light of the abolition of the Ordre des Architectes du Québec (OAQ) awards categories in 2023. If definitions of exemplary architecture evolve over time, and if awards of excellence are used as indicators of exemplarity, how should evaluation … Read more

SURVEY VERSUS COMPETITION: SIMULACRUM AND DEMOCRACY

  About the cancellation of the competition for the memorial to Canada’s mission in Afghanistan Survey versus Competition: Simulacrum and Democracy September 11, 2023   Jean-Pierre Chupin, Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence, Université de Montréal (www.crc.umontreal.ca ) Jacques White, architect, retired professor at Université Laval, trainer and professional advisor for … Read more

PARADOXES OF HERITAGE AWARD

Evolution of award titles related to heritage issues in Quebec (2009-2019) What should we think of awards of excellence for heritage transformations, particularly in the Quebec context?  According to the recurrence of this type of distinction in the contemporary landscape of architectural awards, heritage would be one of the canonical categories of architectural excellence. Despite ... Read more

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN QUEBEC IN 1964: SAMPLE PLANS FOR INDUSTRIALIZATION

"Concours pour écoles primaires, Québec, 1964". Top image, project by Rosen, Caruso, Vecsei, bottom image project by Melvin Charney (see Canadian Competitions Catalogue) Organized by the government of Quebec, the "provincial architecture competition for elementary school" was launched in the midst of the "quiet revolution", under the watchful eye of the religious authorities hitherto in ... Read more

HENRY N. COBB’S AWARD-WINNING SKYSCRAPERS

Place Ville Marie in Montréal (1955-62), Henry N. Cobb in his office (February 2019), the John Hancock Tower in Boston (1967-76) With the passing away of Henry N. Cobb on March 2nd, 2020, North American architecture has lost one of his most respected professionals—a man acclaimed for his designs as well as for his human ... Read more

BOOK AWARDS OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE

In October 2019, on the National Days of Architecture, the Academy of Architecture announced the winning work of its 25th edition of the Book Prize, and the 1st winner of the Book Prize for young people. The Academy Book Prize is annual, and rewards quality architectural works published the previous year, from May to May. ... Read more