Promenade Samuel-De Champlain

The goal of the project was to revitalize 2.5 kilometers of coastal landscape, thereby re-establishing comfortable access for city residents to the St. Lawrence River. The project was completed in June 2008 and immediately received recognition and awards from both the general public and professionals.

Visitors to the promenade are confronted with a series of diverse experiences and atmospheres, from the rediscovered vastness of the river to the details of material structures and plants. The authors work not only with the scales of landscape and human perception but also with the human sense of the world. They guide the viewer from a visual whole to tactile detail.

One of the tasks was to visually suppress the highway that cuts through the property along its entire length. The work with detail manifested in the intention to create a comfortable place for relaxation and sports from this intangible space. The authors placed special emphasis on preserving the original mature greenery as well as species of small plants, as well as the structures of natural materials that existed in the area before its revitalization.

Along the lot, a winding pedestrian path intersects an extensive network of cycling routes. The journey through the park offers visitors a cultural experience at the beginning, sporting activities in the middle, and a spiritual culmination at the end. The pathways through the park are enriched with contemporary art and design objects that connect the original landscape with an urban concept.

Four sculptural gardens, representing the cultural section, seek inspiration from the different moods of the river - in fog, the structures of river deposits, and various transformations of the waterfront.

The sports section of the park consists of two soccer fields, a large open space, and a multipurpose track.

The spiritual conclusion of the promenade can be found at the observation tower. It is located in the midst of the industrial waterfront, where some of the original buildings have also found use for service or other functions within the site’s renewal. The tower looks towards the Quebec Bridge and is a newcomer among the industrial remains, simultaneously serving as a clear landmark dominating the landscape and views.

Behind this part of the promenade, we find a natural park gathering archaeological remnants of Native Americans situated among centuries-old original trees. This section connects to the rest of the promenade and is designed as a free continuation of it.

The tranquil atmosphere is further emphasized by the rich layering of textures in the landscape around the river, the structure of river deposits, the shapes of boulders, as well as local grasses and original mature trees.

The language of the authors is contemporary, simple, and elegant. The use of familiar materials, wood, local stones, and the integration of terrain modifications with existing vegetation on the bank gives the place a taste of authenticity.

The project connects the city with the waterfront and thus with adjacent coastal areas, but it also connects the city with the values and vision of the 21st century. People are rediscovering their relationship with long-forgotten and abandoned places, the river, and the surrounding landscape. This brings a positive response to the city and its surroundings, not only in the form of anticipated economic gains but primarily in the change of people's attitudes towards the city and its surrounding landscape.