Presentation Pavillon des arts Cite du Havre. Image credit: CIAC The Montreal International Centre for Contemporary Artis proposing to redevelop the former Expo 67 Art Museum into the Cité-du-Havre Arts Pavilion; a project which aims to revitalize a site rich in Montreal’s cultural history, and transform it into a hub for artistic expression and public engagement. The building, located at 2190 Pierre-Dupuy Street, was originally designed for Expo 67 and later housed the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art from 1968 to 1992. After, it served as a warehouse for the Casino de Montréal from 1998 to 2023. Designed by architects Paul Gauthier, Gilles Guité, and Gilles Côté, the building is an important legacy of Expo 67. While a 2023 request to designate the building as a protected heritage site was denied, many still recognize its heritage value, reports La Presse. It remains one of the last surviving pavilions from Expo 67, alongside Habitat 67, making its preservation a matter of public interest. A previous heritage study from 2006 highlighted the building’s “advanced decay” and numerous inappropriate modifications. Recent visits by project initiator Claude Gosselin suggest that the exhibition halls remain in good condition and could be restored for cultural use. Renovation costs are estimated at between million and million. The proposal for the site supports the City of Montreal’s plans to build 13,500 housing units in the Bridge-Bonaventure sector. As part of this expansion, the inclusion of the Cité-du-Havre Cultural Park would provide a cultural and recreational space for the public. The park and arts pavilion are also envisioned as important elements of a broader plan to improve the quality of life in this area. Gosselin envisions restoring the pavilion for its original purpose as a space for contemporary art and proposes that the museum be dedicated to Les Automatistes, an influential artistic movement in Quebec. The museum would also include a documentation center, exhibition rooms for CIAC, and a sculpture garden surrounding the building, which aims to be reminiscent of the one that existed during Expo 67. Despite this proposal being in the works, the building’s future remains uncertain. When the property was listed for sale in October 2023, a real estate developer expressed interest in demolishing it to build a condominium tower, causing concern among heritage advocates. For more information, click here.   The post CIAC proposes reviving Expo 67 Art Museum as an arts pavilion appeared first on Canadian Architect. #ciac #proposes #reviving #expo #art