Charlesbourg Library

Partial subterranean infill animates historic district

The expansion of the Charlesbourg Public Library, in the heart of the centrally located Trait-Carré historic district of Quebec City, included many challenges, among them how to address the following questions:
• How could  the new library become a vehicle and a support for memories associated with the site
while at the same time meeting all present and future needs ?

• How could the new plan and public spaces contribute to the creation of an animated urban environment?

In addition it was recognized that the historic urban form and subdivision around the Trait-Carré were an integral part of the site’s her-itage, and should inform the design response.
In the centre of the Trait-Carré is the Ins-titutional Square, designed with an orthogonal layout for the monumental public buildings, which include the Saint-Charles-Borromée Church and the existing historic library, as well as smaller-scaled historic houses. Around this central area, the land is subdivided radially into pie-shaped lots, with the conceptual point of convergence being the spires of the church.
Sited to create a paved courtyard between it and the historic library, the new building is entered on the second level at the internal corner of the L-shaped plan. The larger arm of the L contains the main book stacks, and the smaller arm administrative components. Additional book stacks are located on a mezzanine overlooking the main space, with a study and reference areas located in basement level below. Sloping up from south to north, a green roof covers the main library while the smaller wing rises above the grass-covered roof plane.
The landscape elements of the new library reflect the radial land pattern, while the building itself follows the orthogonal layout typical of buildings in the Institutional Square. These two patterns are interconnected and superimposed on the green roof of the library – the element in which building and landscape come together.
The green roof and the adjacent landscaping recall the agricultural past of Charlesbourg Village and the common pasture lands that once occupied the centre of the square. The landscape envelopes the library and covers it with a field of wild grasses, thus contributing to the greening of a large portion of the southeast quadrant.
The natural topography of the site enables the new building to maintain a low profile, reducing its impact on the surroundings and maintaining the church as the urban focus.  Hence, the library and its associated public spaces become a transition between the more monumental institutional centre and the surrounding residential neighbourhood.
One of the main objectives of the revitalization plan for the southeast quadrant is to re-establish the public nature of the Institutional Square - the space reserved by the Jesuits in the mid 17th century for the construction of religious buildings and which later became common pasture grounds. To this end, the current asphalt-covered parking lot south of the church will be replaced by a new, multi-functional public square which will act as a forecourt for the church.
Depending on the needs, the square will be used as a public market, amphitheatre or parking area.  Like the Piazza del Campo in Rome, it could be used, for example, as a market during the day and a parking area at night. This versatile type of public open space design, so common in Europe, facilitates the appropriation of public spaces for a wide-range of community activities.
The library’s green-roof – one of the largest in Canada – is designed to be an accessible public park for reading, relaxing and picnicking, encouraging appropriation by the public and giving the library a multi-functional character.
While the Bibliotheque de Charlesbourg incorporates sustainable design elements at the detail level, including skylights for daylight penetration, solar shading and geothermal heating and cooling systems, it is the strategic aspects of the building that contribute most to the sustainability of the project. The library expansion densifies an existing urban neighbourhood; the partially earth-sheltered structure reduces energy consumption, while its green roof provides a new and welcome public amenity.
Its greatest contribution, however, may prove to be the increased level of community interaction it encourages and the multiplicity of activities it generates within the restored and revitalized Trait-Carré district. In combination with the new square, it will make an important contribution toward the consolidation and enhancement of the already active cultural life of the district.

Eric Pelletier is principal of ERIC Pelletier Architects in Quebec City.

Credits

• Client Ville de Québec
• Architects/Landscape Croft Pelletier architectes
• Structural/Mechanical/Electrical Engineers BPR groupe conseil
• Contractor Construction EBC
• Photos Chantal Gagnon, Ville de Québec, Benoît Lafranc

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