Lead Firm: Claude Cormier et Associ茅s
Completion: June 2017
18 Shades of Gay, a 1-kilometre-long ribbon-like installation of 180,000 multicoloured resin balls suspended over Sainte-Catherine Street East鈥攏 the Gay Village of Montreal鈥攊s part of the transformation of the street into a pedestrian mall during the summer. The unexpected, joyful, and positive experience it creates has become the symbol of the Village. By integrating the community into its implementation, consequently facilitating a sense of belonging for the residents, the entire project has added a strong appeal among both locals and tourists, becoming a catalyst for economic and social development in the neighbourhood.
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PHOTO:听Our American Dream
PHOTO:听Jean-Fran莽ois Savaria
PHOTO:听Facebook de Village Montr茅al
PHOTO:听Rapha毛l Thibodeau
PHOTO:听Marine Intartaglia
PHOTO:听Claude Guillet, Quartier G茅n茅ral Design
鈥淯rban design often considers the public realm and streets as a series of outdoor rooms. The 鈥榝loors鈥� (roadways and sidewalks) and 鈥榳alls鈥� (enclosing building frontages) are usually the design focus. This imaginative project expands and refines a previous 鈥渃eiling鈥� of glowing pink balls strung over Saint Catherine St. East to delineate and enhance Montreal鈥檚 Gay Village.
"18 Shades of Gay more than met the criteria for this award鈥� as a positive contribution to the public realm, exemplifying design excellence and innovation. The 鈥渃eiling鈥� of this 1 km outdoor room has been transformed into a full rainbow spectrum signifying gay pride. It defines the Gay Village, adds to 24-hour activity, supports the local economy, and successfully elevates an otherwise nondescript urban environment."
"While it is impossible to replicate the immediate impact and novelty of the original Ste-Catherine 鈥淧ink Balls鈥� scheme, this second iteration is more finely executed and addresses a broader range of concerns implied in the design of a permanent urban streetscape infrastructure. The degree of community involvement is commendable, as is the extensive planning developed for the project鈥檚 continued financing, management, and implementation."
Jury members