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Tuesday 2 June 2020

Westmount Square

I am reposting this as Heather wrote it as a comment in the original design selection post and I'm not sure everyone got to see it.  It really is a special building - and our Text'art group loves to lunch there after one of our outings.  No guesses as to my theme. 

Dianne

As a former member of 12btd, I follow your challenges with great interest. I love seeing your imaginative interpretations of the themes.

Dianne alerted me to your next challenge, and suggested I share some tidbits about our Montreal condo, which was designed by Mies van der Rohe. Four years ago we bought a weekend "pied-à-terre" in Westmount Square, built in the 60's. The buildings opened in 1967, coinciding with the Expo 67 World's Fair and the opening of the Metro.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmount_Square (or do a search for images)

Because of heritage preservation laws, the building is very much in its original state. We actually get our mail delivered directly to our unit, through a slot in the door, because it would be a violation of the heritage laws to install mail cubbies in the lobby. The lobby and each hallway is furnished with furniture in the style of van der Rohe, no doubt copies rather than originals.

The below-ground garage is unusual, in that it is not hidden behind concrete interior walls, but rather the cars are "featured" by glass walls. The cars themselves are an impressive collection of mostly Porsches, Beemers and Jaguars, putting our (usually muddy) Subaru in its place as a country cousin.

We live in Tower 3, one of four buildings in the complex, all grouped on a large plaza. The towers are made less imposing because of the height of the lobby and entrance, more in keeping with the "human-scale" of the heritage buildings on the adjacent Greene Avenue. Aside from the black steel, travertine marble is widely used in the lobby and in the underground concourse, which connects directly to the Metro.

Sadly, all the things that made our weekends in the city so much fun (theatre, museums, restaurants, galleries and libraries) are not available during lockdown. We hope to resume our weekends in the city soon!

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Dianne - isn't Heather so lucky to have a place here! I love the idea that the garages were given mini showroom treatment too!!!!

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