Laure-Conan library and city hall in La Malbaie

Located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, La Malbaie was one of Canada’s first holiday resort towns. The new Laure-Conan library and city hall in La Malbaie emphasize the importance of offering a contemporary architecture with a “story to tell.” The project’s main narrative focuses on the value of the site’s historic landscape as it symbolizes the reconciliation between the present city, and the historical landscape closely linked to the St. Lawrence River. The dialogue created by the contrasting exterior materials (dark and light wood, stone and glass), and the visual openings and structural features, are just some of the strategies used to create a unique multipurpose building which is fully integrated into La Malbaie’s urban environment, natural landscape, and historical narrative. The site’s highly sloping topography that extends towards the St. Lawrence River is one of the bases of the architectural concept. In response to this dramatic characteristic of the site, two different entrance levels were created to access the building while integrating the library and city hall in a very simple volumetric concept. The stone base positioned on the lower portion of the site hosts the city hall, while a wooden clad box rests on top, housing the library.