Conceived as a major cultural hub, Épicentre-Culture establishes a civic core on a scale rarely achieved in a suburban context. Located in Laval, within the Greater Montréal region of Québec, Canada, the project transforms a high-traffic site at the intersection of a metro station and major academic institutions into a vibrant destination.

Architecture and public space form a single ecosystem, allowing cultural life to extend seamlessly beyond the complex. At its heart, a state-of-the-art library is paired with a centre for professional artistic creation, reached through a network of curving paths and layered landscapes conceived as a gradual sequence of discovery. Movement becomes an experience: framed views, shifting atmospheres, textures and sound create a sensory journey that reveals the building rather than presenting it all at once.

The landscape unfolds through a range of complementary spaces. A central agora accommodates pop-up performances and gatherings, animated by water features, integrated lighting, colourful custom-designed furniture, and elegant stone platforms that support both play and pause. Nearby, an open plaza and generous square ensure intuitive access from surrounding high-traffic zones.

Quieter spaces form green rooms and an artistic promenade, where artworks are set within vegetation and invite more intimate encounters. A shaded reading garden offers moments of retreat beneath a leafy canopy. Environmental performance is embedded throughout the design. The landscape is structured around an integrated water management system—including retention basins, permeable paving, a dry river, and rain gardens—working in tandem with a fully native plant palette. These strategies enhance biodiversity, reduce maintenance, and strengthen climate resilience while contributing to LEED Gold objectives. A green roof further supports on-site infiltration and water retention.

Together, these elements establish the landscape as an active cultural infrastructure—supporting art, learning, and community life year-round while fostering urban biodiversity and climatic adaptability.