Planning Place d’Armes Too Artsy? (part 2)

When I was invited to participate in Design Montreal’s student workshop about the future of Place d’Armes, a historical square in Old Montreal, I expected to be the sole artsy in a room full of technically-trained urban planning students and lanscape architects. Turns out I haven’t seen such an eclectic spectacle since Indyish’s last Monthly Mess…

First up, we had a spoken word act, a poet who took us through images of Place d’Armes while rhythmically repeating “water and light, water and light, water and light.”

Next up, the comedian: a presentation in which we saw famous monuments around Montreal replaced with kitchy household knick knacks.

Following this, we were treated to the fashion show. The monument to de Maisonneuve, found in the center of Place d’Armes square, was dressed up in streetwear, metrosexual garb, a pinstripe suit and a dozen other trendy outfits…all metaphorically, we were assured.

And finally, the musical component of the soiree: a presentation entirely in sound and images, which seemed to advocate that the historical site be enriched with a piped in soundtrack.

After the first round of presentations, the host announced “Ladies and Gentlemen: these are the planners of tomorrow!” and I felt a little shiver of anxiety.

As an advocate of art in public spaces, why was I so put off by this surprisingly artistic approach to planning? I would liken it to popping in on a Surgery residents’ conference and finding out that it is being conducted entirely in improvisational dance. I’m all for dancing doctors, but I would tend to be a tad worried that some important considerations could be looked over in this particular medium.

Although I am certainly in favour of creative spaces, I think that the approach taken by many of the participants at this event was all wrong. Designing public spaces shouldn’t be seen as an occasion for grandiose installation art. Rather, planners and architects should design a place that citizens can be creative within. I believe that this – and not a perfunctory public consultation – is at the heart of public participation, citizen appropriation of public spaces, and empowerment.

On the plus side, the first round of presentations left me feeling a whole lot better about my pending moment in the spotlight. I had spent the past week putting together these relatively grounded suggestions for the future of Place d’Armes. Although I’d initially worried that my untrained observations would be no-brainers to the planners and landscape architects, by this point in the evening I was starting to feel like a much needed voice of reason…

Much to my surprise, my proposal was voted third-place by the planners, students and citizens present. As the questions & comments period turned into a debate over the meaning of meaning, I took consolation in the fact that my voice, as a citizen and passionate Montrealer, must have struck a chord among a number of the people present.

I truly hope that, when the official plans for Place d’Armes are adopted, they consider its place within the urban fabric and within our city’s still-evolving history, rather than as a canvas for an individual planners’ personal artistic aspirations.