A New Future for the Montréal Mies Gaz Station

Abstract

When it comes to ensuring the authenticity of an architectural conservation project, is an architect’s interpretation of the original sufficient in itself? Or should the architect’s largely intuitive understanding of a site be complemented by the knowledge of the architectural historian? The adaptive reuse of the Île des Soeurs service station, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1967 and renovated by architect Éric Gauthier in 2011, raises such questions. The unique value of this small facility is recognized by its designation as a historic monument. Today, it is a multigenerational activity centre where youth and seniors can gather to learn, play, and socialize.