As Robert Dutrisac puts it so well in his June 29 editorial, the implementation plan that the government has just tabled for its National Policy on Architecture and Land Use Planning is a step in the right direction. And he is right when he says that the coast to be climbed is enormous in terms of architectural culture in Quebec.
However, the Ordre des architectes du Québec is a little perplexed when it writes: “All tastes are in nature, it is said, including the bad taste spread by the indifference and ignorance of contractors who improvise architects or who support complacent architects and by those of their allies, the municipal administrations. There are exceptions, but they prove the rule. »
Good projects multiply
There is excellent architecture in Quebec. Certainly not as much as one would like, but this is not the exception. The Prizes for Excellence in Architecture awarded each year by the Order testify to this, as does the recent promotion campaign entitled “Architects revisit our living spaces”.
More and more, we see the birth, in the four corners of Quebec, of projects that improve the daily lives of people in a sustainable way. What makes their quality, in addition to the architectural gesture, is the teamwork that the creative process underlies, a process in which not only architects and engineers participate, but also project owners, contractors, users and other stakeholders working to materialize a common vision.
Conditions to be implemented
That some architects are forced to comply with the demands of contractors unconcerned about what they bequeath to the community, it is unfortunately possible. But it’s probably an overstatement to say it’s out of convenience. It’s often because they try to do what is possible in contexts that are sometimes more than difficult, in more than unreasonable conditions. Their skills are then not valued, and the results reflect expectations.
To put an end to such situations, as Mr. Dutrisac points out, more dialogue is needed around architecture. Collectively, we must realize that what we build today must last for decades. From now on, Quebec must see its built environment as an investment with positive spinoffs—whether social or economic—rather than as a simple compulsory expense. To avoid disappointments and so-called “so should haves”, we need to place more emphasis on the planning and design stages of projects. And this is where architects can best intervene, guiding thinking, listening to needs, doing the necessary research and formulating built solutions that are well suited to the context.
The Policy and its Implementation Plan can certainly contribute to this awareness. The Government of Quebec also published an excellent memorandum a few months ago which presents guiding principles and conditions favoring architectural quality, whether it is a question of clearly defining the needs or establishing a sufficient schedule. .
Awareness building
Good architecture needs good commissioning, and a well-established architectural culture in the population can certainly contribute to this. We can therefore expect the Policy to undertake an awareness-raising project in this direction.
However, the government cannot do everything. The Order and other players in the architecture and planning community can of course contribute to the building, and the media also have a role to play. The duty presented an excellent regular column on architecture for several years, before ending it in the early 2000s. It’s a shame, because this kind of meeting with the public helps to sharpen our collective sensitivity with regard to the built environment. If we want a better architecture, we have to talk about it and give ourselves the means to do so. So thank you, Mr. Dutrisac, for this editorial and thank you for coming back to it often.