The mandate received from the City of Boucherville consisted of designing a space along Lionel Daunais Street that would serve as both a market for the sale of market garden products during the summer and a public square offering cultural activities throughout the year.
The concept addresses the cohabitation between the market gardening "culture" (rural) and the artistic "culture" (urban) by renewing the image of the public market known until now.
The public market space is defined by three elements: the apron, the cultural showcase and the cloud. These elements frame three types of activities: market activities, cultural events and the cultural identity of Boucherville.
The 77 meter long metal deck unfolds into a light and smooth structure partially covering this linear plaza. The market activities located below are thus protected. The linearity of the steel structure presents a fluidity conducive to contemplative strolling on weekend days. The grid of columns marked every 7 meters maintains a continuous rhythm while bending to the requirements of the market's constraints. Some columns are inclined in one or two directions to facilitate the handling of the unloading areas. The articulation of the columns is facilitated by the choice of steel and mechanical assemblies. Ball joints located at the base of the columns facilitate the inclination of the columns in all directions. The steel is protected by a system of painting type "noxydation", ensuring a good protection and a resistance to the shocks and the bad weather.
The metal deck is anchored to the ground at one end by a volume covered with cedar planks housing the technical spaces and integrating a cultural showcase for the visual pleasure of market users. The showcase, intended for the installation of a work of art, expresses a reflection on the theme of art and culture in Boucherville.
At the other end, floating at about 4 meters from the ground, we find a volume of organic form acting as a counterweight in the whole composition of the market. Held in "captivity" by two columns of the apron, the cloud marks the location for year-round event activities such as ice sculptures, chamber concerts or artistic performances. Suspended below the deck, the cloud is punctuated with beams of light, providing a more intimate atmosphere for gatherings. The location of the cloud is marked on the ground by a contrasting floor covering, thus delimiting a performance stage. The columns located nearby are equipped with the necessary energy to power electrical equipment. The overall composition presents an intimate atmosphere, on the scale of the neighbourhood, which can be enhanced over the seasons by local activities proposed by the City of Boucherville.
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