Design ideas competition for the installation of permanent grandstands on Île Notre-Dame

Les gradins de l’île Notre-Dame

This proposal is notable for its clarity and architectural rigour, which highlights the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and displays a degree of esthetic continuity with the existing paddock design. It is a powerful, efficient gesture, perfectly suited to the requirements of F1, relying on a simplicity of form that indicates potential for financial viability. The jury noted the project’s pragmatic aspects: the design successfully employs a less-is-more approach (see, for example, the sectional view on Board 5, which reveals smart optimization of existing structures). The grandstand covering deftly transforms temporary structures into a durable, coherent whole. The overall esthetic is understated, informed by a structural logic recalling the typology of North American football stadiums. Although that association bolsters the effectiveness of the whole, it somewhat hinders exploration of more innovative possibilities.