Values of sustainable development have been central to all the decisions made during the planning of Pointe Nord in order to create a unique place to live, close to nature, where elegant high-rise residential buildings become one with nature.

ABC’s of landscaping in a LEED ND neighbourhood

“Environmental values were our first consideration in the choice of plants to work with”, says Maxime Brisebois of Projet Paysage Inc. The public square, paths, and riverside parks had to offer places for relaxation where the surrounding nature fits perfectly with the landscaping, thereby creating a unique and constantly evolving scenery throughout the seasons.

“Our job is to create balance by choosing the right plant combinations that will work together to become a harmonious blend. In Pointe Nord only, we have eight varieties of trees, eight varieties of shrubs, and more than ten perennial varieties, in addition to all the plants added to the riverside. Diversity creates beauty.”
– Maxime Brisebois

Challenges

The choices of plants, flowers and shrubs in Pointe Nord were made based on multiple factors such as their adaptability, their need for irrigation, and use of pesticides. Another factor to consider is wind. The wind can be particularly strong in Pointe-Nord, which has been the source of multiple surprises and sudden changes in the landscaping architects’ plans. Additionally, the absence of snow coverage during the winter period in this area, which is not a bad thing, resulted in the choice of more robust plants in certain areas of this new neighbourhood.

Shoreline
Natural plants were used on the shoreline for perfect integration with the landscape.

Parks
The trees planted in the park and on the commercial street were chosen based on textures and colours of the foliage, which change with the seasons. Oaks and maples create beautiful layers in the parks of the neighbourhood and on the main street.

Perennials
The choice of perennials in Pointe Nord allows for an appreciation of the different periods of flowering, creating an evolving landscape through the seasons. Some varieties bloom early in the spring, whereas others bloom over the summer and into the fall. A feast for the eyes almost all year!

The apple trees and the wild rose bushes are examples of perennials that have been planted to embellish the paths, the walkway, and the surroundings of the water basins.

Projet Paysage reminds us that Pointe Nord is still young! The more the vegetation flourishes and grows, the more impressive the view will be. In conclusion, Pointe-Nord is a work in progress and will only get more beautiful over the years.

With winter on its way, residents and visitors of Pointe-Nord will be looking for every opportunity to take advantage of the outdoors and those last rays of summer sunshine.

Read on to discover the many gems in the neighbourhood – some of which are hidden gems – where anyone can take time away from a busy life to just relax enjoy nature.

1. The Esplanade & the belvedere
The Esplanade, that patch of public green space in the middle of Pointe-Nord, has a magnificent view of the water and is perfect for an afternoon of Frisbee or lounging around. The belvedere, also with an amazing view on the waterfront, has lounging chairs perfect for sitting around and reading a good book. Information boards found on the outside of the belvedere tell the visitors about Nun’s Island’s history. And at night, solar panels will light up their path.

2. The bike paths
The bike paths surrounding Pointe-Nord are some of the most beautiful in and around Montreal. With a view of the downtown and of the waterfront, surrounded by beautiful trees, silver grass and wildflowers, it’s enough to make anyone wonder why they would ever live downtown.

3. The Northeastern point of the island
We’ve mentioned this magical spot before, but it’s worth mentioning again. Accessible by the bike paths and across from the future Evolo X tower, this beautiful area is surrounded by trees and plants and offers an unparallel view of downtown Montreal.

4. The courtyards of Zuni, Evolo and Evolo 2
Each development in Pointe-Nord has a beautiful green courtyard where anyone looking to take in the nature and sunshine can relax and enjoy a zen moment. It’s interesting to note that, in keeping with the eco-friendly philosophy of the neighbourhood, these courtyards were designed as green roofs – they are common spaces for residents set on top of the underground garages. This serves both to hide the cars and minimize pollution, as well as to reduce the “heat-island effect” by reducing exposed paved surfaces. By using non-invasive and mostly indigenous species in the landscaping, the needs for irrigation and pesticides use is much reduced.

5. Parc écologique Gerwurz-Remer
Water basins retain and filter rainwater before it reaches the St-Laurent’s river. The wild rose border is a delight for passersby during blooming season. This location also offers one of the best views of downtown.

Now get out there, no excuses! Take in the last of the beautiful weather before winter comes creeping up on us.

How to build a neighbourhood on a human scale

Neighbourhoods like Mexico’s Condesa, New York’s famous Williamsburg or Montreal’s Mile-End, are lively, green and vivacious spaces. But a neighbourhood that is a good place to live usually occurs organically, sometimes in a disorganized way. It happens over decades, even centuries, one small business or public bench at a time. Is it possible to recreate these conditions in a brand new location? That’s the challenge undertaken by the ambitious and innovative project that is Pointe-Nord, in Nuns’ Island.

Proment Corporation maximized its chances of success by applying the following modern urban planning principles that have been proven successful in other projects around the world.

1- Finding a great location close to the water

Yes, Montreal is an island, but it offers surprisingly few spots with direct access to water. With Pointe-Nord, the idea was to create the city’s first waterfront neighbourhood, mirroring those found in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Chicago. Nuns’ Island’s northern tip has long been a vacant lot, due to public perception of it being less green and inviting than its southern counterpart. However, Pointe-Nord offers spectacular views of the river and the nearby city skyline and it was only a matter of showcasing them.

2- Developing a smart and cohesive vision of urban planning

“Take the time to do things right” – that was Proment Corporation president and cofounder Samuel Gewurz’s motto when he conceived Pointe-Nord. The first plans for this new neighbourhood were drawn in 2005, when the promoter worked with San Francisco’s SWA group, which is known for its large-scale urban communities all around the world. Then, in 2008, they had work sessions with Boston’s Sasaki agency, during which they deepened their vision for the neighbourhood. They were inspired by Vancouver’s waterfront settings, where high-rise buildings stand tall among townhouses. Then came the local, Quebec-based teams: Lemay Michaud, Jean-Pierre Bart, Forme Studio and Projet Paysage, working together to ensure a cohesive development. This is a very rare occurrence in architectural circles.

3- Keeping diversity in mind

Three tall, thin, 30-story towers are surrounded by 5-or-6-story buildings and 2-story townhouses. The relationships between these buildings have been carefully studied to create a perfect mix of density and diversity which is much more organic than a long string of tall buildings separated only by parking lots. The wide variety of housing available creates a demographic mix – families, couples, single people, retirees – that makes Pointe-Nord closer to a village than to a commuter town.

4- Making people the top priority

The sensory experience of Pointe Nord pedestrians was a top priority at every step of the project’s design. Every street goes downward towards the water to preserve the water views. The avenues are neither too wide nor too narrow, ensuring that pedestrians feel safe. The lower 20 feet of each building have a unique and inviting siding, and every storefront is slightly different from the others, which is reminiscent of the diversity of a traditional main street.

5- Planning a town square

In Europe, every town and village has a central park or space where generations intertwine. It’s a place where anyone can go to enjoy the moment, sip a cup of coffee and simply be among friendly faces. Following that model, the Esplanade park and Pointe-Nord place have been meticulously planned to maximize human interaction, host fun and lively public events and remain an active space all year long. The restaurant’s patio, right next to the park, is an attraction in its own right. In the summer, a variety of jazz groups perform, and in the winter, the agora is transformed into a well-lit waterfront skating rink.

6- Making accessibility a priority

Even though downtown Montreal and the South Shore are less than a 5-minute drive away, Pointe-Nord has been planned to encourage active transportation. The Société des Transports de Montréal (STM) and South Shore bus services cover the neighbourhood. A bike path runs between Pointe-Nord and the rest of Nuns’ Island and the Lachine Canal – you can get to the Atwater market in less than 15 minutes. Communauto, a car-sharing service, provides cars for its local subscribers. And, with the new Champlain bridge, the neighbourhood will be home to a much-anticipated light train station.

A MAIN STREET WITH A CURATED LOCAL BUSINESS SELECTION

To achieve an authentic main street feel, Pointe-Nord’s promoter carefully selected all featured businesses. “We wanted stores with a unique flavour, to recreate an authentic neighbourhood feeling,” explains Ilan Gewurz, Proment Executive VP, who personally sought out exceptional Montreal-based businesses to convince them to come to Pointe-Nord. “It’s pretty unusual for a promoter to reach out to these small businesses instead of well-established, bigger franchises that sign multi-year leases. But we really wanted to give the neighbourhood a soul, just like you would find in a century-old neighbourhood.”

Here are a few of the businesses established in the neighbourhood:

–       Les Enfants Terribles, restaurant

–       Mamie Clafoutis, artisanal bakery and pastry shop

–      Nettoyeur Ile-des-Soeurs

–       BMO Banque de Montréal

–       M Salon, beauty salon

–       Espace Navi, watercraft rentals

–       The Shed, studio offering yoga and meditation

A GREEN NEIGHBOURHOOD

Pointe-Nord is one of the first boroughs in Canada to have been granted the LEED Neighbourhood Development certification, which recognizes the responsible and sustainable development of new neighbourhoods. The certification has three main requirements: where to build, what to build, and how the project’s impacts are managed. An eco-friendly and sustainable development is central to a neighbourhood with a long-term vision for the future.

This is an excerpt from an article featured in the magazine Nouveau Projet.