THE ELIE-WIESEL PARK, A Landscape of Resilience and Hope
A Tribute to Elie Wiesel and Collective Memory
The park honors the memory of Elie Wiesel (1928-2016), a Holocaust survivor, philosopher, and writer who dedicated his life to memory and human rights. This new landscaped public space is the central element of a high-density mixed-use development on a former industrial site in the Snowdon neighborhood of Montreal, which has long hosted a Jewish community, including many Holocaust survivors.
A Conceptual Encounter between Wiesel and Vauban
Our approach establishes a dialogue between Wiesel and Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, a 17th-century military engineer whose works are part of UNESCO's World Heritage. How can hope and peace be materialized according to Wiesel? How to shape an artificial topography that resonates with Vauban's principles? His fortifications, now iconic landscapes, inspire the structure and design of the park.
Although separated by three centuries, these figures were shaped by war and its consequences. Wiesel embodies resilience and the transmission of memory as pillars of a peaceful future. Conversely, Vauban left a physical legacy: his fortifications, designed to protect, have become places of reflection and contemplation. Like Wiesel's work, these spaces convey a universal message of humanism and peace.
A Park Designed with and for the Community
The program was developed in consultation with neighborhood residents through public consultations that established its essential elements: a large multifunctional green space for events and sports activities, a children's play area, a central mineral space for meetings, a water play area, and various resting zones.
Its geometric design is inspired by Vauban's fortifications: sloped plans and triangulated shapes structure the movements, prevent congestion, and define places conducive to contemplation and social interactions. A steel arch, located in the center of the park, completes this exploration of triangulated shapes and accentuates the dialogue between past and present.
An Ecological and Sustainable Project
The transformation of the site required soil decontamination and the establishment of a resilient ecosystem: integration of native vegetation, natural management of rainwater, and reduction of heat islands. This ecological project creates a welcoming, secure, and refreshing environment for the community.
A Space of Memory and Hope
The Elie-Wiesel Park bears witness to community engagement and the strength of human connections. By transforming constraints into design opportunities, it offers a unique landscape experience and embodies Elie Wiesel's timeless vision: a future shaped by memory but oriented towards the hope for peace.
