Kuehn Malvezzi, Pelletier De Fontenay, Jodoin Lamarre Pratte, Dupras Ledoux, and Nicholet Chartrand Knoll (NCK) have won one of three first place positions in Montréal’s Space for Life International Architectural Competition, which seeks to reinvent mankind’s relationship with the natural world for the city’s 375th birthday, with their proposal for the redesign of the Montréal Insectarium. Titled Insectarium Metamorphosis, the project provides new spaces for visitors to get up close and personal with the multitude of insects housed in the museum.
As the competition prompt suggests, Insectarium Metamorphosis is designed to give a completely immersive experience in the world of entomology. The proposal incorporates incubating facilities and greenhouses that all have transparent openings, allowing visitors to observe the Insectarium’s inner workings. The exhibition space itself will make use of materials such as rammed earth, glass, and water features that enable patrons to get as close to the insects as possible. A new butterfly house will surround them in a recreation of the creatures’ natural habitat.
This project is one of three architectural interventions chosen by the Space for Life competition. The two other selected proposals are for the Montréal Biodome, and the city’s Botanical Gardens. All three are set to be implemented by 2017.
Competition
Space for Life International Architectural CompetitionAward
First PlaceProject Name
Insectarium MetamorphosisArchitects
Location
Insectarium de Montréal, 4581 Rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC H1X 2B2, CanadaDesign Architects
Kuehn Malvezzi + Pelletier de FontenayArchitect Of Record
Jodoin Lamarre Pratte ArchitectesLandscape Architects
atelier le baltoClimate Engineers
TranssolarStructural Engineers
NCK IncScenography
Kuehn MalvezziMuseogrpahy
Monique LaforgePhotographs
Kuehn Malvezzi + Pelletier de FontenayCompetition
Space for Life International Architectural CompetitionAward
First PlaceProject Name
Insectarium MetamorphosisLocation
Insectarium de Montréal, 4581 Rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC H1X 2B2, CanadaPhotographs
Kuehn Malvezzi + Pelletier de Fontenay
