Place du Souvenir – Commemorative Poppies

Discipline : Product

Categories : Exterior / Urban Furniture & Streetscape Products : Gold certification

This multidisciplinary project is part of the integrated urban revitalization of Old Gatineau. It aims to requalify an important sector of the city and restore a strong presence to Place du Souvenir, a commemorative public space located at the intersection of Maloney Boulevard East and Notre-Dame Street.

As an emblematic site within the neighbourhood, Place du Souvenir is home to the Gatineau Cenotaph, a monument honouring Canadian soldiers who served in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War. The intervention therefore had to be integrated with respect and sensitivity into a place of remembrance, while helping to enhance its presence, sense of ownership, and quality of use within the public realm.

The project includes the design of giant poppies, universal symbols of remembrance, integrated into the site as sculptural urban furniture elements. Through their scale, colour, and relationship with light, these monumental flowers create a strong visual landmark that is both poetic and deeply connected to collective memory. They evoke resilience, restored peace, and the enduring beauty of remembrance over time.

Beyond their symbolic significance, the poppies were the result of extensive technical development. Designed for permanent outdoor installation, they had to meet the specific requirements of urban furniture: strength, stability, safety, durability, and ease of maintenance. The structure, anchoring systems, assemblies, materials, and finishes were developed to withstand weather exposure, freeze-thaw cycles, wind, snow, humidity, and everyday public use. Every detail was carefully studied to ensure the longevity of the installation, without compromising the refinement of the formal gesture or the visual lightness of the petals.

The lighting plan completes the intervention by revealing the presence of the poppies and reinforcing the commemorative dimension of the site. During the day, the installations engage in dialogue with the cenotaph, the landscaped environment, and the surrounding urban context. At night, they become sensitive luminous markers, transforming the square into a place of contemplation, remembrance, and gathering.

Through its balance of urban integration, sculptural expression, technical performance, and symbolic meaning, the project gives Place du Souvenir a strong and lasting identity. It demonstrates how urban furniture can enrich the experience of a place, support its commemorative purpose, and help foster a shared sense of belonging.

The project in images