La Grande Bibliothèque de BAnQ

"I will always remember the first time I visited the Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec (BANQ) in the Latin Quarter. Over the years, it has become a place to which I have returned often and in which I feel serene. This immense building emerges from the ground, connected by multiple accesses to the dense and hectic network that lies beneath it. By its imposing presence, it is a reflection of the activity of the metropolis, of the flow of anonymous people who pass through it without even realizing it. During the day, despite its size, it disappears into the clouds, enveloped by the reflections of the sky above it and the buildings that surround it. At night, it is a lighthouse in the city. It is a crossroads between so many spaces, non-places, services, people, that it often becomes a meeting point. I like this space because it extends on the public domain, while allowing to be sheltered from it, a kind of haven. A refuge from the cold, the rain, but also from the incessant noise. When one arrives there from the metro, one discovers a vast interior public square, cleared upwards on a surprising scale. This space radiates by its emptiness. In this hollow is the second skin of the library, an interior wooden facade, whose porosity allows a glimpse of the animation, or the ambient calm, which reflects the time of day. In short, for me, entering the library is synonymous with discovery, security and familiarity. This space also represents quality in the sense that it is open to the city and open to all. It's a place where I've talked to strangers, where I've met teammates for teamwork, where I've sat in the chairs for a long time, contemplating the view from the 4th floor, on a day when I didn't feel like doing more. It's a place where I can come in alone, without being obliged to consume anything, to be dressed in a certain way, where the only requirement is silence and respect for others. Quite simply, it is a space where I can go to the bathroom and fill my water bottle, a space where I can stroll, work, read, sleep and meet. I hope that this space will evolve and transform over time to keep the qualities that make it special to me." (Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2023, p.48). Google map link: https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Grande+Biblioth%C3%A8que+de+BAnQ/@45.515459,-73.5648932,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cc91bb33b2f88f9:0xc74e1f9c890593ed!8m2!3d45.5154553!4d-73.5623129!16zL20vMDQ0M2Y2!5m1!1e1

"I particularly remember visiting La Grande Bibliothèque du Québec by Patkau Architects, Menkès Shooner Dagenais Le Tourneux Architectes, and Croft Pelletier. It was one of the first buildings I visited during a class trip. I remember the long corridor connecting the upper floors, which created an intimate experience that welcomed me inside the building. The atmosphere of the building was unlike anything I had visited. When I first arrived at the site, I was greeted by a large façade that made me enter from the side door to enter the main lobby space. I found that the building was close to public transportation, which made the project accessible. Each library space was connected by pedestrian pathways that connected the public. What most impressed me was the vertical circulation that connected me to the rest of the building through the large atrium space. It provided easy wayfinding to program spaces such as the exhibition space, bookstores, public library, and café. I found the rooms knit together, especially the separation between the archives and public spaces. The views throughout the building were spectacular because they showed transitions between the public open areas to the more privatized program elements. I found myself drawn to the size of the library because it felt like the building catered to many people for different uses throughout the day. You could go to the area for a conversation, to eat food, explore the archives, and find a book, DVD, CD player, among others. The building made me feel like I was in a mall shopping for something, given its extensive program catered to accessory uses. At the same time, offices and breakout spaces surround the building and connect the user with the central circulation pathways. Another point I found necessary in the building was its rich history in francophone culture. When I learned more about the building in my class, I found that culture was essential to developing the building with different atmospheres in mind. Living outside Montreal has taught me how different cultures can unite to promote togetherness through the built environment. From the building to the rich history of the community, the building creates an atmosphere that has to be admired for its willingness to be accessible to all while contributing to the area's cultural heritage." (Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2023, p.26). Google map link: https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Grande+Biblioth%C3%A8que+de+BAnQ/@45.515459,-73.5648932,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cc91bb33b2f88f9:0xc74e1f9c890593ed!8m2!3d45.5154553!4d-73.5623129!16zL20vMDQ0M2Y2!5m1!1e1