Pulperie de Chicoutimi - Quebec

To me, the Pulperie de Chicoutimi is a testimony of quality. I had the chance to visit this site last summer as I attended the festival La Noce. I was amazed by beauty of the nature that permeated through the ruins of the site, and I found it very enjoyable to walk through a site that speaks of so much history. At night, I remember appreciating the lights animated by the festival illuminating certain parts of the industrial ruin, highlighting the details of the structures and the remnant materials. I also really appreciated the approach of the repair of the ruin. The new materials and reconstructions did not seek to imitate the original structure, so I could clearly read the different layers of interventions on the structure. Because of this, I was drawn to look at every detail to learn of it’s timeline. Walking through the site, I remember being able to chose between multiple pathways, so I could take a different one each day and rediscover the site differently. I liked how the pathways brought me to different heights of the site, so I always had multiple views of the activities playing out throughout the festival. Furthermore, I liked how the sections of the site offered a variety of ambiances; some areas were denser, others emptier. Some were more open, others more intimate. This allowed me to alternate between different levels of stimulation and level of activity when I felt the need to. On a more nostalgic level, this site reminds me of the abandoned ruins I used to play in when I was a kid. It reminds me of the mystery, magic and perseverance that comes from re-animating post industrial sites, and the rebellious feeling of playing in places that were not initially meant to be used as such.