PROJECT Bibliothèque de Drummondville, Drummondville, Québec
ARCHITECTS Chevalier Morales in consortium with DMA architectes
TEXT Odile Hénault
PHOTOS Doublespace Photography, unless otherwise noted
A sculptural staircase is at the center of the library. The swirling forms are inspired by the city?s hydroelectric turbines, which have been in use since 1919. Photo by Adrian Wiliams
Some architects are obsessed with materials, others with geometry, others still with colour (or the lack of it). Stephan Chevalier and Sergio Morales, of Chevalier Morales, are obviously passionate about all three?but also, and above all, about stairs. Stepping into the firm?s latest library, completed with DMA architectes, one is immediately struck by?and attracted to?a set of swirling stairs leading to a mid-level landing, a prelude to two more helicoidal sculptures aiming for the upper level. Twin stairs reach a landing, then divide again to ascend to the upper level. Photo by doublespace photography
As one starts wandering about, other steps appear, of the bleacher style that is often (perhaps too often) used in contemporary libraries. In Drummondville, however, they acquire extra meaning, as the upper flight of bleachers is perfectly positioned to watch over the skating rink just outside the building. In this city of 75,000?which boasts more square feet of ice per person than any other Québec town?exterior rinks are sacrosanct. Chevalier Morales latched on to the idea of creating a visua...