The Reception Gardens At The
Botanical Garden Are Blossoming Again
Space for Life, which includes the
The quality and sustainability of the
tanks were highlighted with a brilliant
Biodôme, Botanical Garden, Insectarium
gardens as well as its heritage preservation
lighting plan to provide a new dimension
and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, has
were some of the design criteria guiding
of the fountains at night.
mandated Lemay’s multidisciplinary team
Lemay.
to provide landscape architecture services
for a major restoration and redevelopment
project of the Reception Gardens and
its two main fountains for the Montreal
Botanical Garden.
unchanged, but the repaved alleys were
part of the Administration Building,
rethink to give way to pedestrians.
designed by Lucien Kérouac (1886 – 1951).
This Art Deco-style public building was
built in the 1930’s, at a time of crisis in-
The Botanical Garden represents a
between wars that required imagination
destination of choice, a privileged
and solidarity.
space that is part of the three museums
comprised in the Space for Life, one of the
most prestigious museum institution in
Montreal. Since its foundation by Brother
Marie-Victorin at the beginning of the
last century, this tourist and scientific hub
plays a key role in the social, educational
and architectural development of the
The gardens and accesses remain
The Reception Gardens are an essential
More precisely, the fountains, built in 19371938 and designed by Henri Teuscher,
include reliefs of great delicacy carved
in granite by sculptor Henri Hébert. The
effect of time and oxidation has greatly
Vehicles are now forbidden to preserve the
serenity of the Reception Gardens that act
as a buffer between the city noise and the
public garden.
The shade plantings, located on both
sides of the main aisle and the annual
plantings, were redesigned to encourage
visitors to wander and reclaim the space as
their own.
altered the appearance of these reliefs as
While respecting the history and
well as the exterior basins.
unique charm of the space, Lemay’s
city. The impact of this restoration project
Using the best techniques and sustainable
is major for the visitor’s perception and
materials, a special attention was given to
experience, given that the Reception
the mechanical and waterproofing aspect
Gardens serve as the main entrance of one
of the fountains and their finish. Finally,
of the world’s greatest botanical gardens.
the octagonal basin as well as the waterfall
redevelopment concept proposes a new
experience and a revamped garden that
offers a friendly and lively environment
while respecting the best sustainable
practices.
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