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YUL Garden
By : NIPPAYSAGE
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Landscape & Territories
Categories : Landscape Architecture / Landscape Architecture - Housing Project : Platinum Winner
Inspired by wind-sculpted winter landscapes, the garden forms the heart of the YUL housing complex, one of Montreal’s largest residential projects with some 800 new condominiums. Imbued with the spirit of nordicity, the garden is made up of planted mounds carving out paths, public plazas and private spaces to be enjoyed with the seasons. In summer, the canopy of birch and honey locust trees provides a refreshing space, while in winter, the silhouette of the plantings creates a sculptural space with multiple viewpoints. With its winding walkways, lush vegetation and variety of common areas, this oasis helps to increase biodiversity and reduce the effects of heat islands in a central district, almost devoid of green spaces.
This immense 23,000 sq. ft. private garden acts as a counterbalance to the resolutely urban look of the built complex. At the heart of this verdant environment, the bold, staggered-block condo towers and 17 four-storey townhouses are the perfect embodiment of the urban lifestyle Montreal has to offer. A front garden consisting of a flowerbed and a tree is offered to each townhouse, creating a rhythmic dialogue with the street.
The concept exploits the wind corridor effect, typically present in the downtown area. This aspect is inspired by the snowdrifts formed by the wind in winter; the paths are winding and of varying width, the ground modulations are of unequal heights, and the color white is used as much for the plant palette as in the patterns created on the ground by the pale pavers reminiscent of the wind-sculpted snowdrifts.
It’s the same color that is used to create the wind corridors.
The integration of the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine heritage home is at the heart of the spirit of the place. Left derelict for many years, it has now been completely renovated with respect for its historic features, while ensuring the functionality of its new uses. The landscaping humbly underlines its importance, with a simple, uncluttered composition. Crabapple trees are planted to the east, in a nod to the orchard historically present on the site. In addition, a low granite wall is erected to link the differences in levels between the city and the land, and a commemorative plaque is affixed to it to share knowledge of this emblematic site.
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The project opts for underground parking, freeing up the ground level for landscape deployment. In this way, all public spaces up to the street combine with the challenge of being in a rooftop situation. The various slab levels are then concealed through the fluid forms of the landscape.
Designed in several phases to allow for the gradual arrival of residents, construction staggered from the installation of the sales office in 2013 to 2024 with the completion of the last two houses. The central garden was completed in two phases, allowing materials access to the center of the project so as to minimize the presence of infrastructure on nearby public streets.
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The entire housing project is designed to foster a sense of community through varied and interconnected common areas at different levels, including those of the vast garden located at the convergence of the routes. This configuration recreates a micro-district inviting vertical community living.
Collaboration
