Bibliobservatoire Vivant’s launch

The Bibliobservatoire Vivant research-creation project, bringing together an interdisciplinary team from the School of Architecture and the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Montreal, explores the role of contemporary libraries as agents of urban solidarity. It focuses on their capacity to adapt to socio-ecological transformations through the design of a temporary pavilion. Through an iterative process of experimentation and adjustment, the pavilion evolves according to the needs and interactions of its users. It thus accommodates a variety of adaptable uses and amenities, such as a nap room, a hair salon, or a street bench.

The pavilion consists of a floating roof, supported by an aluminum structure, which houses a small book-sharing box at its center. The architecture is enveloped in layers of fabric floating in the public space, defining a gathering place, an open-air refuge. This initiative situates the project within a broader cultural network and affirms its role as a place for sharing, knowledge, and encounters.

The project also incorporates a set of universal and flexible public furniture made from the former roof membrane of the Olympic Stadium. This playful furniture offers a variety of recreational uses, allowing for direct interaction with an iconic artifact of Montreal culture, now brought down to a human scale.

The entire team is pleased to invite you to the launch, which will take place on September 12 at 6:00 p.m. in Parc des Madelinots, located in Verdun.

The project received funding from the Fonds de recherche du Québec “Appui à la recherche-création” (Quebec Research Fund – Support for Research-Creation).

Team

Alice Covatta – Associate Professor // Project Director and Principal Investigator – School of Architecture // University of Montreal

Marie D. Martel – Associate Professor // Co-Investigator – School of Library and Information Science // University of Montreal

Ange Sauvage – Architect, Doctoral Candidate in Architecture // Collaborator – School of Architecture // University of Montreal

Research Assistants: Manel Bouameur, Ludovic Carreira, Louay Kaoun, Vincent Levesque, Louka Lortie-Van Woudenberg, Sina Moazamifarahani, Lambert Normandin MITACS

Research Interns (Summer 2026): André Fumaneri // Federal University of Paraná – Lina Alexandra Pinzón Guaca // University of Valle – Laura Sofía Rodríguez Vargas // University of Los Angeles Andes

Students in the Arch 3018-i course (Winter 2026) at the School of Architecture, and in the SCI6305 – Public Libraries course (Winter 2026) at the School of Library and Information Science, University of Montreal