For years, developers kept a close eye on Charron Island, a site of exceptional beauty a half hour?s drive from downtown Montreal. Nature lovers also watched, as the coveted land stands at the head of a unique archipelago of relatively intact islands in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. In 1975, a year before the city hosted the Olympic Games, a 130-room hotel was opened under the Sheraton banner, creating a major precedent for future development.
Stone gabion walls and a cedar screen made from locally harvested wood introduce natural textures that complement the soft, flowing forms of the pavilions. Photo by Adrian Williams.
The mid-1970s was a time of widespread enthusiasm for road infrastructure, and the Quebec government failed to see the potential for irremediable damage to the islands? unique ecosystem. Thirty years later, however, sensibilities had changed, and when a 2,500-unit condominium project was proposed for Charron Island, there was a public uproar. The Quebec government put a hold on the project, and in 2012, bought the island with the view of integrating it with the existing Îles-de-Boucherville National Park on four of the neighbouring islands. This major commitment also included funding for a new visitor centre, to be built and run by Sépaq (Société des établissements de plein air du Québec), the organization responsible for Quebec?s extensive park network. At the time, Sépaq had already shown signs of wanting to give a fresh look to its parks ...