The MAC: Open to the World

1. What’s the vision behind the architecture of the new MAC?

The Museum needed some loving care after all this time. The old building was suffering a bit from its own opaqueness—the original design required visitors to pass through numerous spaces before they finally encountered contemporary art. With this transformation, our priority is to make art accessible to as many people as possible by opening the building to its surroundings, the city, the community, and the world. The transparency achieved with a fully glass façade, as well as larger exhibition spaces and galleries, will without a doubt attract a wider audience.

2. Some vestiges of the old museum will be preserved in the new one. Which ones and why?

While uncovering the interior finishes, we rediscovered certain structural elements from the 1980s that weren’t originally designed for display. Since contemporary art is characterized by its diversity of materials, we seized the opportunity to subtly integrate them into the new design. These materials, such as the lightly patinated concrete, bear witness to a history. Juxtaposed with contemporary elements, they’ll breathe new life into the reimagined spaces.

3. How do you hope the project will be perceived by those who visit it?

What most captivated visitors was the opportunity to discover contemporary art in the largest museum of its kind in the country. They were less keen, however, on the building’s opaqueness and austerity. By opening the Museum to the world, we’ll attract both passersby and visitors who come for a reason. The transparency, the natural light, and the works exhibited in the open spaces and galleries will spark interest. More than ever, contemporary art in all its forms will be accessible to all, in the heart of Montreal’s creative hub in the Place des Arts area.