Conversion of the Church of Sainte-Germaine-Cousin Reaching out to the Community

Abstract

This essay synthesizes a serious concern related to built ecclisiastical heritage in Quebec. Most of all, it intends to present the recent conversion of the church of Sainte-Germaine-Cousin in Montreal, built between 1960 and 1962 by architect Gérard Notebaert into a community center related to social housing and child care. Today, after a decade and as the project is nearly complete, it recounts a modern heritage tale that led to an exceptional outcome from social and cultural perspectives and, of course, from an architectural angle. On a larger scale, this project responded sensitively to fundamental issues by creating awareness and a sense of belonging toward modern built heritage.