Quai 34 in Lachine – Rehabilitation and Redevelopment

Discipline : Landscape & Territories

Categories : Landscape Architecture / Waterfront park & promenade : Gold certification

Shaped by currents and by the ebb and flow of daily life, Dock 34 turns boldly toward the Saint Lawrence River. Sculpted within an insular landscape, its intimate dialogue with the water gives the dock at 34th Avenue in Lachine a distinctive poetic character, elusive, yet deeply anchored in the territory. 

Born from a citizen-driven initiative and supported by the City of Montreal’s participatory budget, the transformation of this emblematic site brings to life a riverside public space that is both welcoming and contemplative. Carved by natural forces and the movement of the water, the site retains its spirit as a place for gathering, fishing, and quiet reverie, a natural extension of Saint-Louis Park. 

Guided by Vlan’s landscape architecture leadership, the multidisciplinary team, including civil engineers from EMS and geotechnical specialists from Englobe, combined their expertise through an integrated design approach to meet the complex challenges of riverside and maritime redevelopment. The feasibility of this project is based on a thorough underwater inspection, detailed geotechnical assessments, an environmental characterization, and an evaluation of the load-bearing capacity of the former railway loading quay.

Beyond rehabilitating the dock’s infrastructure, the project creates a meaningful public space for the neighbourhood, seamlessly woven into the green fabric of Saint-Louis Park. At the base of the lighthouse, a prefabricated concrete bas-relief unfolds, offering varied viewpoints, illuminated seating, and integrated plantings. The gentle regrading of the ground, the greening of the site, and the thoughtful connection to the riverside park invite relaxation, contemplation, and soft gatherings. 

In a gesture both playful and educational, stainless-steel inlays representing native Saint Lawrence River fish species are embedded into the concrete coating, echoing local fishing traditions, still active. A measuring ruler for catches is discreetly incorporated into the freshly repainted guardrails. Restored mooring bollards and new supports for fishing rods welcome enthusiasts to reconnect with this cherished activity. 

Rooted on the river’s ever-shifting shoreline, the dock’s new topographic and organic form responds to multiple challenges, including water management, shared uses by pedestrians, cyclists, and navigators, universal accessibility, all while safeguarding the ecological balance of this rich ecosystem. Respectful of both the living environment and the site’s spirit, the development is inclusive, adaptable year-round, and deeply faithful to the identity of Lachine, a riverside city within the Montreal area, in the province of Quebec. 

The project in images