Located on land previously occupied by a gas station, Place des Fleurs-de-Macadam is an important visionary multi-dimensional space, weaving together cultural, environmental, social and urban significance. Covered in crushed stone, the ground was decontaminated and transformed into a climate-resilient green oasis in the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood.
As Quebec’s first “water square” – a multifunctional and temporarily floodable public square – Place des Fleurs-de-Macadam provides an inclusive gathering place in the heart of Montreal. This resilient and sustainable public square provides users with a unique place for play and rest. The square’s appearance and aesthetic are enhanced by the incorporation of street furniture, a drinking fountain and a basin filled with mist blowers for cooling off on hot days. The square offers numerous benefits for the community and the city overall, providing a refreshing and natural space in the middle of the city.
The square’s design is instrumental in rehabilitating public space, reducing heat island effect and decreasing rainwater overflow. Its features promote resilience to climate change through water filtration of those floods and the creation of green space. As both a work of art and vegetation, the central ore and rock-based filtration space temporarily retains rainwater. A bioretention swale in the southern part of the square enables runoff infiltration and optimal rainwater management. Infiltration and phytotechnology are then used to treat matter suspended in the water. The project reduces sewer overload, decreases sewer overflows and helps replenish the water table.
Place des Fleurs-de-Macadam provides both an optimal floodable system based on the location’s hydrogeology and also addresses the City’s interest in prioritizing water management in public places for future urban planning. Educational installations within the square bring public awareness to rainwater management challenges, the technical aspects of filtration and the benefits of water management in urban environments. This award-winning project is now paving the way for other potential “water squares” in the province of Quebec.
Services
Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Electrical, Civil, Structural