An Architecture Of Permanence

In a globalized and fast-moving world, the experience of time can be strengthened by weathering, decay, and the patina. However, a rejection of this experience has been central to the conceptualization of permanence in architecture. 

This thesis investigates what constitutes permanence by revisiting diverse perspectives. Departing from the sole perspective of physical durability, it becomes essential to consider aging, transformations, and the passage of time. Challenging conventional approaches, a renewed framework that addresses both the continuum of time and contrasting spatial conditions is formulated. 

The design proposal articulates itself as a series of three installations in a revitalized urban park, located on the Peel Basin’s former flour dock, in the Montréal Lachine Canal. It conveys permanence by supporting collective traces from the past, a plurality of voices, and the unfinished condition of architecture. Conceptualized as a succession of vast and confined spaces, they engage in an architectural journey of discovery, reflection, and reminiscence.