The series Archi branchés, hosted by Marc-André B. Carignan on Canal Savoir, is dedicated to architects and features tours of their latest achievements, as well as municipal stakeholders who contributed to the projects. The final episode explores the design and building of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium by the consortium of Cardin Ramirez Julien and Ædifica.

The building, with its impressive pair of truncated cones pointing toward the sky, was quickly acclaimed as a signature architectural achievement. Its opening in April 2013 marked a decisive step in the consolidation of Space for Life. The largest science and nature museum cluster in Canada, it also includes the Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Biodôme. 

Caroline Dubuc, Design Commissioner with the Bureau du design, and Nathalie Dion, President of the Ordre des architectes du Québec, discuss the importance of international architecture competitions. They point out their many benefits: the transparency of their processes transparent, the resulting architectural concepts that respond to the needs and budgets established in the program, and the fact they provide emerging firms with opportunities to access public commissions. 

Archi branchés is a co-production of AGLA Médias and Bell Local in collaboration with Montréal’s Bureau du design and the Ordre des architectes du Québec.