casino hotels, four of them

the short of it

Expo 67 pavilions on an island in the St Lawrence, rebuilt inside as a stacked resort

what holds itself up

The pavilions were built to stand on made ground in the river, and that ground and structure still do the work. Water on every side keeps the site clear of surrounding traffic. The tall central volume brings daylight down through several interior levels without any borrowed light.

what has to be kept going

An island site means the causeways, services and access routes are cleared and maintained through Québec winters. Sixties glazing and structure have been reworked more than once to meet later expectations of comfort. Restaurants and a live programme run inside a shell never designed to hold either.

the short of it

a resort built into the slope above the gorge, with the drop of the falls in front

what holds itself up

Cutting the building into the escarpment lets the hillside carry part of it and puts several floors below the street. That level change gives the upper rooms and restaurants an open view without any structure competing for it. Rock behind the lower floors holds a steady temperature.

what has to be kept going

Spray from the gorge reaches the glass, so the view side is washed on a cycle the falls set rather than the calendar. Below-grade floors need air moved into them constantly. A theatre, a spa and several kitchens each run their own plant inside one connected structure.