Collectif Mégane Bédard + Jean-Simon Bissonnette + Rose-Marie Bourdages + Camille Brodeur
Un jour, un jour, une jeunesse en fougue
The differentiating feature of this project is its resolutely architectural stance, which favours conservation over a clean-slate approach. The jury especially appreciated the decision to retain all of the Olympic Games legacy facilities, considering this zone not as a constraint but as a historical foundation that cannot be overlooked. The new structures integrate seamlessly with the whole, reflecting a profound respect for the park’s built heritage. The proposal’s most compelling aspect is its acute sense of place. The project is grounded in a narrative firmly rooted in the site’s identity, with an architectural language echoing that of Place des Nations. This conservation-oriented approach offers a relatively realistic solution. Its formal and structural complexity, however, casts doubt on its adaptability over time, and could cause managers to question the global lifecycle of the permanent grandstands. The glazed spaces between the grandstands offer significant spatial design potential that could be favourable to active use of the site outside of event periods and encourage complementary uses.
