It seems only natural that a welcome center for a park allude to the outdoors in some capacity. So, when designing a discovery center for Îles-de-Boucherville National Park, which lies just outside of downtown Montreal, Smith Vigeant Architectes chose to showcase timber, geology, and sustainability.
Collaborating with SEPAQ, Quebec’s national parks network, Smith Vigeant conceived an amoeba-like façade sporting different tiers of undulating walls clad in local woods. Some portions of the envelope were constructed with single-, double-, or triple-height floor-to-ceiling glazing or retaining walls composed of stone. A band of vertical wood slats that extend from the northern elevation to the southern side adds textural visual interest while also forming a shade to combat solar heat gain. Operable clerestory windows also aid in this effort, producing a chimney effect that enables warmer air to escape through the top.
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