June 11, 2018
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRIGIL Brigil reiterate its support for a modern, open and flexible heritage citation for the quartier du Musée
GATINEAU, June 11th 2018 – Provincial director urban planning, urban design and landscape architecture at Stantec Québec, Steve Potvin, has presented Brigil's position on the quartier du Musée heritage citation, Monday night, during a urbanism consulting session at the City of Gatineau.
Mr Potvin, an heritage expert, reiterated Brigil's support for a modern, open and flexible heritage citation allowing modern and vintage inspirations, as well as low and high scale buildings, to go well together. All of this could be possible if some criteria are valued.
"We propose the creation of a framework that could allow original, ambitious and iconic projects. These projects would induce major social and economic benefits for the city. A part of that new money could be used for the preservation and showcasing of Gatineau's heritage. In order to attach themselves to the quartier du Musée, these projects would have to bring a new momentum. They won't endanger our heritage, they will galvanize it. Brigil is ready to make a demonstration in a constructive way and spirit, with everyone involved: the city, the citizens and all the groups interested in Gatineau's history and future" has declared Mr Potvin.
Complete text is attached to this press release.
Brigil also publicly presented on Monday a document prepared by Mr Potvin and his team that has been used two weeks ago, when Brigil and Gatineau's urban planning specialists met. In it, we can find many examples of well implanted projects incorporating vintage and modern buildings around the world. Brigil has published it on its website.
For more info:
Carl Martin
Marketing coordinator, Brigil
819-968-1500
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"Ladies and gentlemen, members of the consultative comity,
Thank you for giving us the chance tonight to show our vision regarding the quartier du Musée's heritage protection. We want to reiterate that Brigil entire team, especially its president Mr Gilles Desjardins, supports a heritage citation for that neighbourhood because we cherish Gatineau's history preservation. Brigil already said it publicly and repeats it tonight.
You all know there is many ways to showcase our history and heritage. We share city's direction, written in its development scheme that highlights a progressive conception of its heritage.
In our minds, this should mean a modern, open and flexible heritage citation allowing modern and vintage inspirations, as well as low and high scale buildings, to go well together. All of this could be possible if some criteria are valued.
A citation including criteria such as façade treatment, linkage with the Museum, a reminder of traditional heights for the basilar, street animation, urban mix, convenience stores integration, material quality, lighting, urban furniture, etc. A citation opened for future developments as well as protective of our past.
We are convinced that we can achieve both. Many have succeeded before us. Gatineau is also capable of great things.
Two weeks ago, we sat down with Gatineau's urban planning team – a great and constructive meeting – whom we gave a complete document explaining our commitment towards our heritage protection and containing many examples of other Canadian architectural successes energizing heritage neighbourhoods. We hand you a copy of that document published on our website tonight for every citizen to see.
Be assured: if you propose a modern, open and flexible heritage citation allowing modern and vintage inspirations to go well together, with high scale buildings on Laurier St., we will support it. We would also like our pieces of land to be included in that perimeter.
But if you plan on choosing a classic heritage citation separating itself from new practices, freezing any development, we would like to be excluded from it. Therefore, perimeter should be limited inside the block and exclude the square between Laurier and Notre-Dame Streets. This would not stop any individual designation for heritage buildings in the excluded area.
If that second scenario is chosen, we would at least keep economic development potential that Gatineau needs. But it would be a missed opportunity to propose a unifying, inclusive and ambitious vision to showcase our history and heritage.
To sum it all, we propose the creation of a framework that could allow original, ambitious and iconic projects. These projects would induce major social and economic benefits for the city. A part of that new money could be placed in a dedicated fund for the preservation and showcasing of Gatineau's heritage.
In order to attach themselves to the quartier du Musée, these projects would have to bring a new momentum. They won't endanger our heritage, they will galvanize it. Brigil is ready to make a demonstration in a constructive way and spirit, with everyone involved: the city, the citizens and all the groups interested in Gatineau's history and future.
Thank you for your attention." – Steve Potvin, Stantec
