PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery is located on the Mont-Royal mountain in the heart of Montreal. Founded in 1854, the cemetery is one of the oldest and biggest site of commemoration in North America.
The master plan realized between 1997 and 2001 reflects the intention of development of the site for the next 25 years as requested by agreement from the City of Montreal.
The cemetery is part of a vast green space located on the Mont-Royal mountain. It includes Mount-Royal Park, several university sites and others cemeteries.
The master plan, combined in two documents, shows the origin of the site, the historical development and the needs of inhumation for the future generation.
ROLE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
In this project, the landscape architect was in charge of the conception and direction of a multidisciplinary team. The team's members were oriented in a global site analysis to define parameters through a reflection for the future orientations and development of the cemetery.
The role of the landscape architects, supported by several professionals with planning abilities, is to conciliate with new approaches the past, the present and the future of this more than centennial institution.
The master plan was realised within four years with the collaboration of the City of Montreal and public groups of interests wishing the most suitable development of the Mont-Royal mountain as a vast green space in the heart of Montreal.
LOCAL AND REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery is one of the oldest and the most important cemetery in North America with approximately one million of inhumation sites. It has a great reputation as a unique space of commemoration for the whole province of Quebec. Many local and regional communities coming from different social and ethnic origins visit the cemetery.
In order to answer in a suitable way the demand and the needs of the clientele, a landscape architect firm has been required. This firm has been notified, among others, for the realisation of a master plan and the development of inhumation and commemoration gardens. The funeral complexes offer now a wider range of competitive funeral services among other things because of the ageing population. This will encourage the visitors to come and to visit the cemetery. The project is unique and contributes to enlarge the role and the profession of landscapes architects. Considering the actual tendency of the market towards the cremation and the evolution of the population, the landscape architect brings a particular design expertise. The concept, as well as the esthetical and functional aspects of the design, reflects an original and documented landscape approach.
SPECIAL FACTORS
The master plan of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery includes special interest features that create its charm and attraction.
For example, let's mention the presence of historical buildings and monuments with artistic value, the wooded areas with centennial trees and various intimate landscapes with ambiance or panoramic view of Montreal.
In order to show adequately these features, we realised an inventory of all the trees and wooded areas with a computer assisted program for control and maintenance of the vegetation on site. We have proposed a tree planting program that will maintain the number of trees and also insure the preservation of this resource in accordance with the greenery objectives of Montreal.
The project in inscribed in the category planning and analysis. We think it should receive a prize for the originality and the conceptual process.
The Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery master plan will provide a strong belonging attachment and a desirable legacy to inherit to future generations.
