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BUILDING |
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Geodesic Dome - Montreal Biosphère
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DESIGNER |
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CONTEXT |
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| Importance of the building in the territory and in the city |
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DESCRIPTION |
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 Located on the western tip of Île Sainte-Hélène, alongside the USSR pavilion but separated by the Le Moyne canal, the United States of America pavilion is undoubtedly one of the most memorable of Expo 67. Even if it initially sparked controversy as some people felt it was too daring, architect Richard Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome quickly became one of the most prominent symbols of Expo 67. Given to the City of Montreal by President Lyndon B. Johnson, it would later house the Biosphère, an ecowatch centre.
 The structure glows in the sunlight due to its acrylic skin and is lit up at night. There is minirail access to this architectural masterpiece standing 80 metres wide (250 feet) and 20 stories high, which makes the experience that much more exciting.
Numerous exhibitions are presented inside the pavilion. American cinema and many aspects of the entertainment world have a prominent place. There are also areas devoted to the fine arts, represented in particular by works from the Pop Art and Op Art movements. As well, the story of the arrival and the life of the first European settlers on American soil is told. Visitors can also learn more about astronauts' achievements, projects and tools. These exhibitions truly illustrate Creative America, the pavilion's theme. |
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MATERIALS |
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LOCATION |
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| Continent |
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North America |
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 Canada |
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 Québec |
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Montreal |
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 Montreal |
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| Neighborhoods |
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Île Sainte-Hélène / Saint Helen's Island |
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| Address |
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160 Chemin Tour de l'Isle
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| Telephone |
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| Website |
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MAP |
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TYPOLOGY |
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ARCHITECTURE | Museums and buildings for exhibitions
Science museums
Commercial buildings
Trade fair buildings and pavilions
Other architectural structures
Roofs, casings
Domes and cupolas
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CHRONOLOGY |
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Realisation |
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1967 |
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THE BUILDING IN CINEMA |
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| Title |
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| Directed by |
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| Cast |
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| Paul Newman, Vittorio Gassman, Fernando Rey, Bibi Andersson, Brigitte Fossey, Nina Van Pallandt |
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| Building's role |
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| Cast |
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| Donald Sutherland, Francine Racette, David Hemmings, John Hurt, David Warner, Peter Bowles, Virginia McKenna, Christopher Plummer |
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BIBILIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES |
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| Abby Bussel, "New life for Buckminster Fuller dome", Architectural Record 4/1996, april 1996, p. 11 |
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| Bronwen Ledger, "The Biosphere reborn", Canadian Architect 9/1994, september 1994, pp. 25-28 |
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| "New use for biosphere", Progressive architecture 11/1993, november 1993, p. 27 |
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| Lotus international 78, ottobre/october 1993, [Applicazioni tecniche / Technical Applications], p. 71 (66-79) |
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| "United States Pavilion, Expo 67, Montreal", GA document 3, winter 1981, pp. 114-119 |
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| Carlo Testa, "La nuova industrializzazione e le nuove energie / Buildings transformed into energy producers", Domus 577, dicembre/december 1977, p. 26 (25-30) |
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| Bruno Zevi, Spazî dell'architettura moderna, Einaudi, Torino 1973, tav. 656 [XII. La terza età: itinerarî degli anni cinquanta-ottanta] |
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| Abraham Rogatnick, "Expo 67, The Past Recupered", Lotus 5, gennaio/january 1969, pp. 28-31 (12-33) |
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| Reyner Banham, "L'uomo all'Expo", Casabella 320, dicembre 1967, pp. 48-51 |
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| "The United States pavilion at Expo '67, Montreal", JA. The Japan Architect, august 1967, pp. 38-46 |
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| Domus 446, gennaio/january 1967, pp. 10, 14-15 (10-20) |
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EXHIBITIONS |
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| Explosion 67: Youth and Their World, Montreal, Centre d’histoire de Montréal, 16 june / 2 september 2017 |
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DIMENSIONAL
DATA |
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| Diameter |
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ANNOTATIONS |
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 In 1976 a fire destroyed the transparent acrylic bubble, but the steel structure remained.
In 1990 the Environment and Climate Change Canada financed the reconstruction, with a building designed by Éric Gauthier, inside the original steel skeleton.
The new Biosphère was inaugurated in 1995 and in 2007 it changed his name to become an environment museum. |
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CREDITS |
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Photos: Library and Archives Canada, Olga Arjante, Hervé Lucas
Courtesy of Library and Archives Canada
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