Bickerdike Project

It all started when...

Brownfield redevelopment

Final workshop 2013-2014 / Project supervisors: Christian Thiffault & Guillaume Paradis

Montreal possess harbour zones that have unique urban attributes that have been acquired throughout its extensive and varied usage.  As such, this area represent a significant challenge towards redevelopment and over time, several high profile events as well as large construction projects have changed the urban landscape with occasionally unwanted results. Cut off from the city due to the Bonaventure highway, the challenges this area presents are mainly geared towards allowing for greater access to other districts, boroughs and neighbourhoods, especially for pedestrian and cyclist mobility.

The Bickerdike project inherits it’s name from one of the local docks that is also undergoing redevelopment. In order for the city to regain its relationship between this area and the Saint-Lawrence river, this project establishes its foundations in two types of networks : public spaces as well as mass transit. Indeed, a continued emphasis on public spaces towards the waterfront, combined with pedestrian access allows for a seamless link between the Lachine Canal, the Old Port of Montreal, the southern riverbanks of the harbor, and the Verdun borough. In turn, this allows for both pedestrians and cyclists alike to travel from any one waterfront area to another.  Public transport is also emphasized, which gives residents the possibility of being connected to other parts of the city using already established subway, rail, and bus networks with ease.  Therefore, it becomes essential to ensure that the newly planned constructions be apt to support a public transit network.

Putting forward the concept of urbanity, the quality of urban life by combining both density and diversity, become the fundamental aims of this project. In turn, this type of planning will allow a more coherent development at the city’s scale.