In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Expo 67, Dror has conceptualized a new cultural landmark for Montreal’s Île Sainte-Hélène, the original site of the World Fair that took place in 1967 and home to R. Buckminster Fuller's Biosphere.
Following a tour of the island with the Buckminster Fuller Institute, studio founder Dror Benshetrit was largely inspired by the site’s unharnessed opportunity and set out to reimagine the seasonally-used grounds.
Taking Fuller’s geodesic dome, a lonely orphan in the Montreal skyline, into account, we propose a second, enlarged dome for the western tip of the island. Poetically engaging Bucky’s existing structure in a visual dance, interacting much like the sun and the moon, our concept gives the Biosphere a long-awaited companion and ushers Montreal into the future.
Our 150-meter-wide aluminum sphere presents a hybrid framework for nature and technology. Transformed into magical cultural space by a planted canopy, it welcomes visitors for reflection or activity with a lounge, pathway and 8500 m2 of flexible programming space. The vegetated cover, serving as a natural sound buffer, offers an enchanting backdrop for events year-round: festivals, fairs, concerts, installations, food markets, performances and hackathons. The possibilities are endless.
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