FOTOTOURMONTREAL an >FI3200/ bLOG: Maisonneuve Theater

When you talk modern architecture in Montreal, there isn't much to see. Montreal is more of a heritage architecture town, and that's fine. That is why we are part of the world heritage of UNESCO protected cities. But there are a few great modern architecture pieces such as the CIBC tower, the Place Ville-Marie tower and the Place-des-Arts buildings, particularly the Théâtre Maisonneuve, Montreal's greatest architectural piece

This world class theater built in 1967 is of an elegance never matched in this town. Its cubist proportions and cantilever design gives it an impression of a floating sculpture. Its aging concrete has acquired some texture through oxidization as does copper through time.

Designed by Montreal Architects David, Barott et Boulva, the theatre is a modern version of the traditional Italian theater and is inspired by the modern architecture school of the German Bauhaus.

As for the Photography, we have used a basic second body D3100 with a fixed 50mm focal length lens ; not the best setup to shoot that building. A wide angle lens would have been more appropriate in some of the tight side alleys and backstreets as well as yielding more dramatic perspectives. Using that setup was intentional and it was meant to serve as a Photographic challenge. Close ups of the structure and scenic shots where therefore all designated for this set due to the choice of lens.

The Theater is like a modern sculpture hovering close to ground in the middle of the city

Its massive and wide glass frontage showing the inside structures of staircases and balconies is raped in copper cladding. It covers the whole front and part of the sides. The rest of the structure has very little in windows and openings. This contrast is what makes it stand out as well as its proportions and the sculpted cubist volumes arranged in steps on the rooftop.

Still to this day, it looks like it could be from a science fiction flick or part of official buildings in the government district of Brasilia. Its purist and elegant design make this building age better that any other in Montreal.