The Reception Gardens At The Botanical
Garden Are Blossoming Again
S
pace for Life, which includes
the Biodôme, Botanical
Garden, Insectarium and
Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium,
has mandated Lemay’s
multidisciplinary team 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.
The Botanical Garden represents a
destination of choice, a privileged
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
city. The impact of this restoration project
is major for the visitor’s perception and
experience, given that the Reception
Gardens serve as the main entrance of
one of the world’s greatest botanical
gardens. The quality and sustainability
of the gardens as well as its heritage
preservation were some of the design
criteria guiding Lemay.
The Reception Gardens are an essential
part of the Administration Building,
designed by Lucien Kérouac (1886 –
1951). This Art Deco-style public building
was built in the 1930’s, at a time of
crisis in-between wars that required
imagination and solidarity. More precisely,
the fountains, built in 1937-1938 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 altered the
appearance of these reliefs as well as the
exterior basins.
Using the best techniques and sustainable
materials, a special attention was given
to the mechanical and waterproofing
aspect of the fountains and thei