reclaimed docks
mirage
What: An 8-story, 180-unit low-rise building among a 9.6-hectare, high-density residential complex.
Who: For everyone: rental, condo, penthouse and social housing. With everyone: a team of master-level architects across Canada.
Where: A former industrial site in Montreal next to a canal.
This project was the winning entry in a national competition. The goal was to rehabilitate disused dock basins into a sustainable, high-density residential complex. The challenge was to achieve the highest possible density while meeting (strict) city regulations and ensuring comfort and natural light for all units.
Design idea: The original basins are brought back to the surface, with housing built in and around them. But surprise! From the main road, you can see that the water is not as natural as it may seem, since the underground parking ramp runs right underneath. The towers, like beacons on the site, were reduced from three to two to make sure everyone got good views and plenty of sunlight.