Agora Maximus, Tactical Urbanism
location: Montreal, Canada
client: SDC du Quartier latin
In collaboration with Signature Design Communication
Photos by Raphaël Thibodeau
The Challenge
The project was born out of a program initially launched by the City of Montreal in 2021 to support the economic recovery of commercial arteries and later to promote their summer pedestrianization. The 2022 edition is triennial and planned over 3 years, with the aim of promoting greater sustainability of the facilities. The SDC Quartier Latin successfully submitted the application for rue St-Denis to this program.
The Response
Immersive and intriguing, the Agora Maximus combines two landmarks of Latin culture: the Agora, a place for civic meetings, and the Circus Maximus, a linear amphitheater for live entertainment. The modular platforms offer accessible open spaces for pedestrians to socialize and take in the scenery. Informal and playful, they take the form of colorful mounds of "pixels" filled with greenery, enhancing the tree coverage of St-Denis Street. Featuring a gradual implementation plan over 3 consecutive years, the modularity and durability of the system were key design criteria. The pixels come in 5 different heights and the installations can be reconfigured in 2023 and 2024 to respond to the new opportunities and situations.
Expertise(s)
EXPERIENCE DESIGN, BRANDSCAPING, DESIGN & INNOVATION
Market(s)
Distinctions
Selected Press
Design Montreal - Bureau du design: Aménagement temporaires montréalais sur rue, cahier de bonnes pratiques pour la qualité du design
C40 Cities: Design Guidance Green & Thriving Public Spaces
Canadian Architecture + Twenty Change 2024 (Canada): New Perspectives - October issue
ArchDaily (USA): Agora Maximus, Tactical Urbanism Project / LAAB Collective + Signature Design Communication
Index Design (interview) (Canada): Aménagement urbain: Agora Maximus piétonnise le Quartier Latin
Canada's Placemaking Community (Canada): Agora Maximus : L’art d’élever le placemaking à un niveau supérieur
Building (Canada): Agora Maximus by LAAB Collective and Signature Design Communication
Arq-Ep (Brazil): Entre módulos
Archello: Agora Maximus, Tactical Urbanism Project
World Landscape Architect (Australia): Agora Maximus | Montreal, Canada | LAAB Collective & Signature design communication
Livegreen (Italy): Agora Maximus, beyond tactical urbanism in Montreal
Parametric Architecture (Turkey): Planning-By-Doing: How Can Tactical Urbanism Help To Create Better Urban Spaces?
Architecture List (Indonesia): Agora Maximus Pedestrianization, Montreal / LAAB Collective
Decor Design (Russia): Agora Maximus, Projet d’Urbanisme Tactique / Collectif LAAB + Communication Design Signature
Design Dekko (India): Agora Maximus, Tactical Urbanism Project
Gooood (China): An immersive and vibrant temporary streetscape installation
Mooool (China): Agora Maximus, Tactical Urbanism Project by LAAB & Signature design communication
hhlloo (China): Agora Maximus is an innovative pedestrianization project that pushes the boundaries of tactical urbanism
D-Arts (China): Agora Maximus
AIM Competition (China): Agora Maximus
China Public Art Net (China): Agora Maximus