Mylène Moliner-Roy, Quan Thai
M1 Studio | Instructor: Michael Jemtrud
First Place Winner – Place Tansey Master Planning Design Competition
With a rich industrial heritage, Pointe St-Charles is a continuously changing neighborhood staging an actively involved community. What can further this dynamic engagement is to expand its outreach beyond its current scope. Poniculture proposes to enrich the community life by merging its activities with a research center, instigator of development of new technologies in urban agriculture. Consequently, the intervention will soften the industrial landscape on Wellington Street, turning it into an innovative, sustainable hub.
Water harvesting is a key element to the organization of the site and is vital in the cultivation of new ecosystems. On-site water management facilities will serve as a catalyst for the nurturing of development and production. The water harvesting system enables a series of ponicultures (hydroponic, aquaponic, aeroponic, etc.) that each facilitate a different microclimate. These nodes will then generate a series of curated hybrid microcultures that rest at the intersection between community, institution and industry.
The uniqueness of Poniculture relies on the thoughtful layering of complex systems into a cohesive, sensual solution. The morphology of each system is informed by the extrapolation of site conditions to promote passive sustainability. In parallel, the interlocking of these systems favours a provocative development of local economies and interaction between varying sectors. The resulting microcultures engage in a dynamic dialogue that magnifies the progressive character of Pointe St-Charles.