“Territories and Landscapes” is an immersive exhibition by Atelier Pierre Thibault that reflects on the relationship between architecture and its environment. Taking place at the Galerie d’Architecture in Paris from 15 April to 27 May 2023, the exhibition presents 20 architectural projects undertaken by Atelier Pierre Thibault in the Canadian province of Quebec. Built in symbiosis with nature, Pierre Thibault's projects create a dialogue between the landscape and the people who use and inhabit them.
The “Territories and Landscapes” exhibition comprises a display of drawings, models, books, sketchbooks, and objects, set against the backdrop of Galerie d’Architecture’s modest interior. Organized across a number of simple wooden trestle tables, with corresponding large and vivid photographic prints on the adjacent walls, the work of Atelier Pierre Thibault is presented without any trace of ostentation. A thoughtful exposition, it is reminiscent of an open and creative workshop, and invites visitors to literally, and figuratively, wander through Quebec’s vast territory.
The projects on show offer an expansive view of Atelier Pierre Thibault’s work, from the studio’s founding in 1988 until the present day. Consisting of ephemeral installations, and institutional and residential buildings, each project is arranged in a manner that questions the relationships between architecture, landscapes, culture, and nature. "River, forest, lakes, fields, and cities: these are territories confronted with impressive climatic differences that already force us to be creative,” says Thibault. “Nature is, for me, a source of renewed inspiration and a great teacher.”
In his architectural practice, Thibault has actively contributed to making architecture a subject of public interest in Quebec and elsewhere. His approach is one that wholly embraces nature: it uses the transformative power of the seasons to create spaces that capture remarkable moments with visual acuity. Atelier Pierre Thibault’s work is typically minimalist in style and often situated within singular landscapes.
Visitors to the “Territories and Landscapes” exhibition can marvel at the beauty of Résidence Le Grand Plateau, set in the Laurentian Mountains overlooking lake Heron, or visualize life at Résidence Maison du Cap, with its stark wooden frame perched on a headland in the middle of the Quebec forest. They can imagine the silence and solitude experienced by monks at Abbaye Val Notre-Dame in the heart of a forest in Saint-Jean-de-Matha, or wonder at the brutal beauty of the Belvedere of the Val-Jalbert hydroelectric plant, eerily located in a deserted industrial village.
Selected works by Atelier Pierre Thibault that are part of “Territories and Landscapes”
Résidence Les Abouts (2005)
In a woodland setting in Quebec’s Saint-Edmond-de-Grantham, Résidence Les Abouts was imagined for contemporary art collectors who wished for a spacious and warm home in which to display their works and accommodate their daily lives.
Abbaye Val Notre-Dame (2009)
Abbaye Val Notre-Dame is home to a monastic community that dreamt of a building that would reflect the inner peace and simplicity it cultivates on a daily basis.
Résidence Le Grand Plateau (2014)
In Résidence Le Grand Plateau, Atelier Pierre Thibault created a platform from which the panoramic view could be fully appreciated, while respecting the natural balance of the site.
Belvedere of the Val-Jalbert hydroelectric plant (2015)
Belvedere of the Val-Jalbert hydroelectric plant was designed to reconcile the industrial nature of the project with an imperative to protect the area’s heritage. The plant was developed to highlight a popular touristic pathway.
The Grantham Foundation for Art and the Environment (2019)
The Grantham Foundation for Art and the Environment in Saint-Edmond-de-Grantham, embodies a museum reserve, an artist's residence, and an exhibition hall.
La Véranda is an installation for Quebec’s Reford Gardens
La Véranda is an installation for Quebec’s Reford Gardens that was completed in 2021. Its design symbolizes the porch of an archetypal home, whose walls fade to reveal the free plan of an open-air house.
Résidence Maison du Cap (2021)
Résidence Maison du Cap is organized in a manner in which the living spaces are surrounded by a large wooden terrace that hangs over the luxurious vegetation cover.
Pavilion for Collège Durocher (2022)
The new pavilion for Collège Durocher in Saint-Lambert, Montérégie, is the result of a renovation of an unused amphitheater — formerly obsolete, it was redesigned as a light and bright open space, one conducive to discussions and workshops.
“Territories and Landscapes” is presented at Galerie d'Architecture, 11 rue des Blancs Manteaux, 75004 Paris, France, until 27 May 2023.
