A dynamic landscape serves to link a new sports complex into the grounds of an existing educational institution
The insertion of two new sports centre buildings within the existing Paul-Émile Legault Polytechnique complex transforms negative space through dynamic shapes. Grassed slopes in the landscape parallel the shapes of the new buildings, defined by the architects as being “raised by the sculptural and kinetic energy from the heart of the building […]” (Saucier + Perotte). The irregular landscape forms also provide an important contrast and a striking transition between the brutalist architecture of the existing Polytechnique and the light sleek modernity of the new sports complex. Planted mostly with white and red pine (Pinus strobus and Pinus resinosa), the singularity of the vegetation along with the consistent contrast of pine silhouette against the planes of the architecture serve as a datum to link the public realm of the three buildings together. The monotony of the concrete surface is broken using skewed grooved joints as well as 3600 pavement marker tattoos distributed along a density gradient that highlights key nodes such as entrances and meeting points.
