François-de-Sales-Gervais Plaza

A veritable window onto the river, Place François-De Sales-Gervais constitutes a major tourist and economic driver for the region. Throughout the year, this multipurpose public plaza can host various festive events and community activities. The new developments improve downtown attractiveness and unify spaces through pedestrian pathways and small plazas oriented toward the river, creating a harmonious and accessible ensemble. The plaza unfolds as a waterfront promenade and living and gathering space for citizens and visitors, while integrating an urban beach with sandy expanses.

Bordered by the majestic St. Lawrence River and developed behind Contrecœur’s town hall, the plaza derives its meaning from its close relationship with the river. The project aimed to establish a fluid connection between downtown and the river through the creation of a structural axis. Created in a natural setting, the development includes a plaza with street furniture near the marina, a floating dock for light watercraft, particularly kayaks, and a boat launch. Wood, a strong identity element of the project, highlights the site’s history and optimizes its integration into the natural, waterfront context. The large wooden deck evokes typical wharves and boardwalks, while the furniture provides the site with a distinctive visual signature.

BC2 designed a monumental bench whose shape evokes that of a boat. Bleachers allow for small gatherings, while lounge chairs, arranged in the shade of large blue umbrellas in the city’s colours, reinforce the urban beach atmosphere. These installations offer visitors panoramic views of the river while encouraging free appropriation of spaces. The use of wood reduced environmental impacts, particularly in the riparian zone and the flood zone. Thanks to the wooden bleachers and deck structures, the levels of usable surfaces can be adjusted without modifying existing ground levels. Finally, native plants adapted to the site’s demanding climatic conditions were chosen for the riparian zone, and the selected vegetation contributes to controlling invasive plant species.

Data sheet

Client

City of Contrecœur

Location

Contrecœur