In the busyness of the city, it’s easy to keep your head down as you go about your daily grind, getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. So easy, in fact, that if you don’t take a second to look up, you might miss the incredible feats of engineering and design that make Montreal the beautiful city that it is. To help you appreciate this mess of concrete and metal, here’s a sample of some A+ architecture to catch your eye the next time you’re out on the town.
1. The Winding Stairs of Mile End
Whether you live there or just love brunching there, everybody can recognize the exterior staircases of Mile End. An influx of migrants to Montreal in the 20th century meant a need for more housing, and thus the compact plexes were conceived. Building codes demanded more interior living space (hence the stairs being relegated to the outside), and the twisty effect eliminates the need for a straight staircase that would only crowd up the sidewalk. Sure these steps can get a bit treacherous during the icy winter months or after a particularly good grocery haul, but hey–they’re eccentric and elegant and they’re ours.
2. Bridging the Distance
In case you haven’t noticed, our beautiful city was built on an island surrounded by three rivers, and as such, we rely on our trusty bridges to get around. Much like the bridges of New York City, the bridges of Montreal are quick, useful, and straight up IG-worthy. Nothing gets you from point A to point B faster in life than a bridge…unless of course it’s under construction (in which case we recommend just snapping a pretty sunset picture and opt for taking the tunnel).
3. Repurposed Historic Buildings
Walking through downtown Montreal, it’s easy to focus on the people and the traffic (in fact, it’s kind of necessary for survival). But look up and you’re bound to catch an eyeful of Montreal’s charming, historic architecture that’s likely been converted into functional office space on the inside. A beautiful example of this is the Royal Bank Tower 360 St-Jacques St. W, where the Crew Collective has recently converted the 50-foot high ceilings and 12,000 square feet of space into inspiring workspaces and a welcoming café. Looking for an aesthetic location to glamorize your study sessions? Look no further! We hear they even have solid Wi-Fi.
4. Montréal Metro: Aesthetics on the Go
Okay, so you don’t like walking, especially in the winter. No problem! Montreal’s underground can often be mistaken for dark and dreary, but Christopher Forsyth might argue otherwise. This photographer has documented all our metro stations in all their dramatic glory, and his stunning photos definitely do justice to the brutalist architectural style that became so popular in the 1960s. The next time your train is late, take a second to appreciate the striking use of light, lines, shadows and colours!
5. Loyola Campus: The Hogwarts of Montréal
And finally, for my fellow Concordians, the Collegiate Gothic style of Loyola Campus. Whether your program is situated here, or you’ve had an elective or two in one of the buildings, you really can’t deny that these hallways are magical. While some of the buildings are more recently built, others (like the Chapel and the Administrative buildings) are hallmarks of the European-influenced early-20th century Gothic Revival. We can’t guarantee that your classes will actually end up being in one of the stained glass decorated rooms, but just exploring them with friends can make you feel like you’re managing a bit of mischief at Hogwarts…and that isn’t a bad thing!