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BUILDING
 
 
Pavillon dʼaccueil de la Seigneurie des Aulnaies
Visitor Centre for Seigneurie-des-Aulnaies
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DESIGNER
 
 
AC /a AnneCarrier architecture
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CONTEXT
 
Masterplan
Pavillon dʼaccueil de la Seigneurie des Aulnaies, Visitor Centre, AC /a AnneCarrier architecture, St-Roch-des-Aulnaies, Quebec, Canada
Relationship with the location
Pavillon dʼaccueil de la Seigneurie des Aulnaies, Visitor Centre, AC /a AnneCarrier architecture, St-Roch-des-Aulnaies, Quebec, Canada
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DESCRIPTION
 
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Pavillon dʼaccueil de la Seigneurie des Aulnaies, Visitor Centre, AC /a AnneCarrier architecture, St-Roch-des-Aulnaies, Quebec, CanadaThe concept for the siting and construction of the new visitor centre for Seigneurie-des-Aulnaies, a registered Quebec cultural heritage site, is grounded in the characteristic elements of the surrounding landscape: the river, bridges, forest and stone buildings. The architects opted for a Land Art approach, focusing on natural settings and materials. The aim was to make the new building as discreet as possible and showcase the siteʼs most interesting landscape and heritage features.

Pavillon dʼaccueil de la Seigneurie des Aulnaies, Visitor Centre, AC /a AnneCarrier architecture, St-Roch-des-Aulnaies, Quebec, CanadaThe resulting pavilion takes advantage of the siteʼs slope: the building “melts” into it, minimizing its visual impact on the site and allowing for universal accessibility. Stone is the projectʼs dominant source of inspiration. It is found on the site in every form: as a retaining wall, piled on the riverbank, and hewn for use on the millʼs exterior. This natural raw material appears in the new pavilion as a gabion wall. Meanwhile, the buildingʼs green roof suggests an exposed stratum of the underlying ground and emphasizes the idea of landscape- focused architecture by blurring all references to buildings. The interior spaces are organized longitudinally, following the roofline.

As the gateway to the historic Seigneurie site, the new pavilion is used for welcoming visitors and controlling site access, while giving visitors an overview of different ways to explore the site. The first volume, in wood and stone, is used for services, while the second volume, finished in glass, opens on the landscape and provides a “frame” for looking at the mill and its activities. The gap between the two volumes provides a view of the river side of the landscape. On the street side, the gabion wall guides pedestrians toward the entrance, characterized by a picture window and a thin awning attached to the building. The awning provides shelter for guided activities or contemplation; it is also designed to steer the visitor toward the wooden walkway leading to the manor house.

The project, executed on a very tight budget, reflects a contemporary approach to integrating a new structure into a sensitive location, where the top priorities were to highlight historic architecture and landscape heritage. By minimizing the environmental and visual impact of the pavilion, the architects showed a high degree of sensitivity to the rich natural setting. In addition to the challenge of integration with the surroundings, there was also a need to address the social acceptability of the project – a challenge successfully met thanks to an actively involved client open to new ideas and passionate about the Seigneurie des Aulnaies.
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LOCATION
 
Continent
North America
Nation
Canada
Province
Québec
Region
Chaudière-Appalaches
Municipality
L'Islet
Town
Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies
 
 
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MAP
 
 
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TYPOLOGY
 
ARCHITECTURE
Buildings for travel and tourism
Information and reception centres
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CHRONOLOGY
 
Realisation
2015
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CLIENT
 
 
Corporation touristique de la Seigneurie des Aulnaies
M. Réal Perron [President]
Ms. Dominique Garon [General manager]
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STRUCTURES
 
 
Douglas Consultants
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STAFF
 
Project
AC /a AnneCarrier architecture
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CREDITS
 
 
Photos © Stéphane Groleau
Drawings © Anne Carrier architecture AC /a
Text edited by Anne Carrier architecture AC /a
Courtesy of Anne Carrier architecture AC /a | v2com

Pavillon dʼaccueil de la Seigneurie des Aulnaies, Visitor Centre, AC /a AnneCarrier architecture, St-Roch-des-Aulnaies, Quebec, Canada



If you haven't already clicked on the photo strip at the top of the page, for the gallery of photos [12 images] and drawings [4 images], enter here
 
 
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