The Canadian Centre for Architecture in collaboration with the UQAM cole de design program Connaissance et sauvegarde de l’architecture moderne, announces the lecture series Dealing with the 60s: How to intervene in the architecture of the 60s. Presented as a complement to the current exhibition The 60s: Montral Thinks Big, this series is comprised of two discussions about contemporary interventions in landmark buildings from the period and a round table that explores modern architecture and its impact on future planning. The lecture series will take place at the CCA’s Paul Desmarais Theatre at 7pm on February 17, 24, and March 3.
Architects, planners and preservationists will examine the built icons of modern architecture from the 50s and 60s in Montral and New York such as Buckminster Fuller’s American Pavilion for Expo 67, SOM’s landmark skyscraper Lever House in New York, Place des Arts and Place Ville-Marie amongst others. The series concludes with a round table discussion on how to modify buildings of this period and how to deal with 60s architecture in the future.
On February 17, architect Anne Cormier, founding member of the Montral firm Atelier Big City and professor at the School of Architecture at the Universit de Montral, discusses interventions on Place des Arts and ric Gauthier, partner in the Montral firm Faucher Aubertin Brodeur Gauthier, will speak about the Biosphere. This discussion will be hosted by France Vanlaethem, Director of the Connaissance program at UQAM’s cole de design, and advisory committee member for DOCOMOMO International.
On February 24 Jeffrey Holmes, an architect from the renowned New York firm Skidmore,Owings & Merrill (SOM) will speak about the policy of intervention developed by the firm for their landmark tower, Lever House in new York. Upon completion in 1952, the New York Times described Lever House as a building which “takes full esthetic as well as practical advantage of modern means of construction.” SOM has recently restored Lever House, indicating that the building expresses how innovative and enlightened design can make “a work of art out of office space.” This discussion will be presented in English with simultaneous French translation available.
On March 3, Richard Lafontaine, architect and treasurer of DOCOMOMO Qubec, moderates a round-table discussion with architects and city planners on their positions on intervention in architecture of the 60s. The panel will explore the role of clients, architects, city government and the general public in the process of modifying significant modern buildings.
Participating panelists for this discussion include architects Gavin Affleck, ric Gauthier, Susan Ross, and France Vanlaethem, President of DOCOMOMO Qubec. The discussion will be held in French.
Admission is free, but seating is limited. For more information, please call (514) 939-7026 or visit the website at www.cca.qc.ca/programs.