by Jacques Bérubé
Don't go looking for palaces or castles in Montreal. Founded in 1642, the city's architectural treasures reflect its young history, shaped by trade, industry, transport, religion, entertainment and the avant-garde. [Image credit: iStock]
Built between 1965 and 1970 in the city of Le Havre, opposite Montreal's Old Port, Habitat 67 is a unique residential complex constructed of 354 prefabricated concrete modules assembled into three pyramids, connected by walkways. The prefabrication of the modules included the treatment of the concrete, insulation, windows, installation of plumbing and equipment for the bathrooms and kitchens. Once complete, the modules were placed in their assigned location by crane.
Located in Old Montreal, right next to the Notre-Dame basilica, the Saint-Sulpice Seminary is the only surviving 17th century building in the city. The Sulpicians began its construction in 1684. It's is an excellent example of the institutional architecture of New France. Its clock dates from 1701 and is possibly the oldest in America.
The family seat of Governor Ramezay, and subsequently the residence of the stewards of New France, the office of the English Governors of Lower Canada, the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University in Montreal, and finally a history museum. The heritage museum of the Château Ramezay offers visitors a vast panorama of the history of Quebec.
The central pavilion and the tower of the University of Montreal are outstanding examples of the Art Deco buildings that punctuate the cityscape. There are also examples of Art Deco in the working class neighbourhoods of the South West, the Atwater Market being a fine example.
Perched in the sky over the old harbour docks, the red neon sign of the Five Roses Flour Mill has welcomed visitors to Montreal for over 50 years. Built between 1941 and 1945, the complex consists of six buildings. The largest is made up of a row of huge concrete silos connected by a walkway.
_________________________________________________________________
More great ideas:
_________________________________________________________________
In 1913, on Metcalfe Street, facing Dorchester Square, construction began on the Sun Life Building. With its 26 floors covered by 60,200 granite blocks, the structure was at the time the tallest building, not only in Montreal but in all of the British Empire.
Throughout the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, Montreal, the country's metropolis and its main industrial and commercial centre, was the crossroads of maritime and rail transport in Canada. Located at the corner of Peel and Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, the prestigious Windsor Station was built between 1887 and 1889. Its imposing structure in grey limestone is a fine example of the Canadian neo-romantic movement.
In the early 1920s, the city centre was cut through by a 15-metre deep trench, for use by the trains and tracks of the Canadian National (CN) railway. In the 1950s, CN's president, Donald Gordon, launched two projects with the aim of covering up the scar, namely the Queen Elizabeth Hotel and the Place Ville Marie. With its cruciform building of 42 floors, the Place Ville Marie remains the lynchpin of the city centre and the central point of the Montreal underground, with tunnels connecting its shopping mall to the Eaton Centre and Central Station.
The ebb and flow of life in Montreal is governed by its bridges. The elegance of the Jacques Cartier Bridge has made it an emblem of the city. Built of steel at a cost of $23 million, it was inaugurated on 14 May, 1930, half a year earlier than planned, without having interrupted the river traffic during its construction.
With the tallest leaning tower in the world and its distinctive oval shape, the Olympic Stadium has been a feature of the Montreal landscape ever since the 1976 Summer Games. This 65,000 capacity covered stadium, the largest in Canada, has hosted many prestigious events, from the first World Outgames to the visit of Pope John Paul II, with several performances by international stars such as David Bowie, Madonna and U2 in between. And yes, the Olympic Stadium has been the subject of much debate, just like the Eiffel Tower. It's a particular favourite subject of celebrities... being the architectural types that they are!
