Controversial New Development Sparks Debate Among Citizens
The installation of 42 golden masts on Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue, located in front of Montreal's Olympic Stadium, has sparked debate among residents and critics. The masts, each standing at 18 meters tall, were installed in early July as a symbolic architectural or artistic feature, though the exact purpose, cost, and reception remain unclear.
The masts, topped with lights, are installed between the Pie-IX and Viau intersections, and serve as a visual landmark and tribute to the Olympic heritage of the site, as Pierre de Coubertin is the founder of the modern Olympic Games. However, the cost of these installations has not been publicly detailed in accessible sources.
Reception to the masts has been mixed. Architects may critique the design’s aesthetic integration with its environment, while neighbors might appreciate or object based on visual impact and neighborhood character. City officials typically consider its symbolic significance and contribution to public space improvement.
Resident Steven Grant has denounced the masts as an "abomination" and an expensive project for the city, while Richard Felton finds them too high and not festive. On the other hand, Dave Côte finds them beautiful and decorative, and Odile Hénault, architecture critic and former president of the Quebec Architects' Association, has largely been convinced by the masts after visiting the site twice, day and night.
However, France Vanlaethem, professor at the University of Montreal, has expressed confusion about the masts, suggesting there may be a mix-up with Olympic flags. Peter Fianou, the architect responsible for the project, has suggested that the halos should allow Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue to be identified from the top of Mount Royal.
The refurbishment of Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue, a flagship project for Montreal, includes the widening of sidewalks, construction of a bike path, and installation of a new original concrete median. The low difference in level between the sidewalk and the bike path at certain locations on Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue has reportedly led to pedestrians and cyclists falling, sometimes seriously injuring themselves.
The masts were installed more than a year after the completion of other avenue refurbishment works, which began in 2019. In 2023, it was reported that the new roundabouts on Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue are so small that STM bus drivers cannot circulate through them for fear of hitting a cyclist.
As of now, the precise cost figures and documented responses from architects, neighbors, and officials for these 42 golden masts remain unclear. For updated or definitive data on this installation, checking Montreal municipal archives, recent local news on public art in the Olympic Park area, or official statements from the city of Montreal would be recommended.
The visually striking golden masts, standing tall as a tribute to the Olympic heritage, have ignited discussions about their impact on the city's lifestyle, particularly in the home-and-garden aspect and transportation environment. Despite being a symbolic architectural feature, the cost of these masts has fueled concerns among residents and critics alike, questioning their value in terms of public space improvement.
