Discipline : Architecture
Categories :
Special Award / Architecture + Landscape
: Gold certification
Categories :
Public Building / Cultural Building
: Gold certification
Categories :
Special Award / Architecture + Art
: Grand Winner
Categories :
Special Award / Architecture + Stairs
: Gold certification
The transformation of the Octogone library is part of a clear desire: to make this iconic place a contemporary, lively, and unifying space that meets the expectations of a rapidly evolving community. Located at a key crossroads in the LaSalle district, the library now plays a central role in the cultural and social life of the neighborhood.
The architectural intervention is based on the preservation and enhancement of the existing base, to which three new lanterns have been added, distinct volumes with contemporary lines that reorganize the building's relationship to its context. These lanterns signify a symbolic opening toward the city, Félix-Leclerc park, and the community, each housing functions that promote diverse uses: café, fab-lab, reading lounges, active terraces, and meeting spaces. The architectural approach bets on the clarity of volumes and fluidity of pathways, favoring natural light, transparency, and a refined materiality.
Designed as a real "third place" — between home and work — the Octogone library becomes a space of experiences, exchanges, and discoveries. Inside, the pathways are fluid and intuitive, centered around a large crossing hall and a sculptural staircase that leads to bright and immersive spaces, the "in my bubble" area, a floating reading zone above the heart of the library. This playful sphere, piercing through the roof, acts as a light catcher and spatial landmark visible from several points in the building. Interactive walls, inclusive signage, immersive zones, and flexible and accessible arrangements enrich the user experience. The central agora, which visually connects the two levels, acts as a convergence point for different sectors: comic library, youth areas, cartoonist's workshop, spaces for teenagers and adults. The crown layout optimizes synergies between the public and enables a rich and evolving program.
The exterior materiality — a play of opaque and perforated metal, transparency, and light — gives the building a strong and dynamic presence, while respecting the scale and memory of the place. Finally, the green roofs, visual breakthroughs, and spaces bathed in natural light reinforce the dialogue between the building, its urban and landscape environment, affirming The Octogone as the cultural beacon of the neighborhood.
