Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castors

The Lac-aux-Castors pavilion, located in the heart of Mount Royal Park, is a landmark and a strong symbol within the park. Designed in 1958 by architects Hazen Sise and Guy Desbarats, the building stands out for its harmonious integration into the landscape, its openness to the surrounding nature and its architectural simplicity. In 2003, architects Réal Paul and Pierina Saia were commissioned to carry out the rehabilitation project aimed at restoring the pavilion to its original state, while meeting contemporary safety and accessibility standards.

Finalized in 2006, the project involved restoration in accordance with the original design. The architects collaborated with Claude Vermette, ceramist on the original project, and Mariette Rousseau, painter-weaver, in order to restore the symbiosis between art and architecture that characterized the pavilion in its early days. The two-storey structure primarily serves the leisure activities in the immediate lake environment, such as picnicking, skating and pedalo rides. It also houses two vast public spaces: a skaters' changing room on the first floor and a dining room upstairs, both of which open onto the surrounding landscape.

The rehabilitation work included the complete overhaul of the building envelope, as well as the bringing up to standard of the pavilion, mainly regarding matters of universal accessibility. The redevelopment of the women's sanitary block, restoration and replacement of windows and exterior doors, and acoustic cladding were among the main interventions. Architectural elements such as the balcony, staircase, stone surfaces and terrazzo were cleaned and restored, as well as repainted. The project also included the design and implementation of lighting, signage and interior and exterior furniture.

Interventions on the envelope were carried out with great precision, including the refurbishment of the roof edge to the original copper sheet detail, as well as collaboration with artists for the development of the artwork on the facades. 

This rehabilitation allows the pavilion to continue to serve the community while providing a model for heritage building restoration.

2007 - Prix d’excellence en architecture de l’OAQ - Heritage conservation and restoration

2006 - Prix Orange - Sauvons Montréal