The Espace Culturel Georges-Émile Lapalme, Place Des Arts- located in Montreal, Quebec and designed by Menkès Shooner Dagenais Letourneux Architects, is an arts center that embodies much of what art is in general. It is a home to a multitude of different media and instances. I’ll define instances as architectural media or media made architecture. Instances are those things that you look at and can’t decide- don’t want to decide- if it’s intentional art or architecture, or architecture intentionally made as art.
Photography by © Stéphane Groleau
The re-imagining and re-defining of the Place Des Arts are set into a hill which it itself creates. Stairs step up one side ‘geographically’ like a laser-cut top model, and up the back as normal stairs, creating a vantage point for city-goers to observe from. Within, spaces have been created and/or redistributed. Throughout the interior spaces, a lighting and audiovisual system are employed on floors, walls, and ceiling in order to fully, sensually envelope visitors.
Photography by © Stéphane Groleau
Project Info:
Architects: MSDL Architectes
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Area: 7,840 m2
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Stéphane Groleau
Project Name: Espace Culturel Georges-Émile Lapalme, Place Des Arts
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.