Book Review: The New Montreal
The New Montreal: New Urban Projects in Old Montreal edited by Mark H. Choko
Like many North American cities, Montreal suffered a suburban flight in the post-war years, followed by misguided, tabula-rasa urban renewal projects that left the city in an unfortunate state. This book features fifteen projects -- part of a 2001 exhibition at Le Centre de Design de l'Université du Québec à Montréal -- that attempt to remedy this state, using renewed interest in city centers and information technology as a starting point. From plazas and museums to housing and office buildings, the projects interact with the historical city in various unique ways, something that makes Montreal one of the most interesting North American cities today. Projects include Dan Hanganu's Musee Pointe-à-Callière, which traces the city's 350-year history; the Cité du Multimédia, a large scale office development west of Old Montreal focused on internet and other hi-tech companies; and Palais des Congrès, a colorful expansion of the exhibition hall that spans the Ville-Marie expressway. Essays by Georges Adamczyk, Bernard La Mothe, and editor Mark Choko help with background information on Montreal, its historic center, and the projects presented.
Like many North American cities, Montreal suffered a suburban flight in the post-war years, followed by misguided, tabula-rasa urban renewal projects that left the city in an unfortunate state. This book features fifteen projects -- part of a 2001 exhibition at Le Centre de Design de l'Université du Québec à Montréal -- that attempt to remedy this state, using renewed interest in city centers and information technology as a starting point. From plazas and museums to housing and office buildings, the projects interact with the historical city in various unique ways, something that makes Montreal one of the most interesting North American cities today. Projects include Dan Hanganu's Musee Pointe-à-Callière, which traces the city's 350-year history; the Cité du Multimédia, a large scale office development west of Old Montreal focused on internet and other hi-tech companies; and Palais des Congrès, a colorful expansion of the exhibition hall that spans the Ville-Marie expressway. Essays by Georges Adamczyk, Bernard La Mothe, and editor Mark Choko help with background information on Montreal, its historic center, and the projects presented.
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