MAC Transformation
On April 9, 2018, the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art (The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal - MAC) has unveiled the winning project of the architectural competition launched in June 2017 for the museum's renovation and transformation. The images in this article show the design and preliminary drawings for MAC's new look.
MAC enters a pivotal stage in its development. Museum attendance has increased steadily over the last 5 years, culminating with this year’s record of over 600,000 visitors. As an important national museum dedicated exclusively to the promotion of contemporary art, the MAC in its current condition faces a desperate lack of space to exhibit its vast collection.
It was the proposal of Saucier+Perrotte Architectes / GLCRM & Associés Architectes, a consortium of
Highlights
of the new MAC:
- Close to a 100% increase in exhibition spaces and rooms, including three new exhibition rooms.
- Every space, from lobbies to circulation areas, has been redesigned to showcase contemporary art.
- New and expanded educational spaces.
- An exterior façade that has been transformed by the expansion of the main entrance and the added area on the 2nd floor.
- The optimization of the Beverly-Webster-Rolph multimedia room.
- New spaces for the Restaurant du MAC, including an outdoor terrace on the 2nd floor.
- New spaces for the MAC Boutique, including a bookstore and a coffee shop.
The new
Museum’s architectural vision
The
proposal by Saucier+Perrotte Architectes / GLCRM & Associés Architectes
builds on open and light-filled spaces to strengthen the special connection
that joins the MAC to the quadrilateral defined by Place des Arts and to the
Quartier des spectacles. In particular, the essential link between the MAC and
the Place des Festivals will be maintained with a new transparent, light-filled
expansion. On level 2, a large window will showcase the Museum restaurant, a
double-height space that will open onto an outdoor terrace.
The museum
will enjoy far greater visibility on the lower, Sainte-Catherine Street
From an
urban planning perspective, several features will link the new MAC to its
context. On the ground floor, the Museum will glow with transparency and the
hustle and bustle of its public spaces, while on the Place des Arts Esplanade
level the architectural proportions and expression will integrate with the
existing architecture. he upper section will be composed of an
envelope of folded metal blades revealing the interior spaces and
filtering natural light. The created verticality will express and harmonize - in a
contemporary manner - with Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier and Théâtre Maisonneuve.
A new
Museum in 2021
On the
current timetable, the main project phases are scheduled as follows:
- April 2018 Start of architects’ mandate
- January 2019 Temporary closure of the Sainte-Catherine Street MAC
- Spring 2019 Opening of the temporary MAC
- Summer 2019 Start of the Sainte-Catherine Street MAC construction
- Fall 2021 Opening of the new MAC
The
temporary MAC
The MAC
must remain active and on hand throughout the construction period in order to
maintain its relationship with the city and community presence. Between the
closing and reopening, the MAC will set up headquarters in a permanent location
and all the while make its influence throughout the city with multi-site and
ephemeral exhibitions.
The
programming, while limited, is nevertheless planned to be of excellence and
rigour. None withstanding that this transition period will come with its
share of challenges, it will also give the MAC an opportunity to explore
both new partnerships and new exhibition spaces, and will challenge to display greater
creativity.
Click on images to enlarge them.
All images in this article courtesy of @ MAC
All images in this article courtesy of @ MAC
For more information about MAC, visit the museum's website.
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