A new landscaping for the Museum’s gardens
MMFA's green spaces. Sculpture : Elisabeth Frink (1930-1993), In memoriam I *and *In memoriam II, 1981. MMFA, gift in memory of Barry Seymour Boyd, in honour of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' 150th anniversary. Phot MMFA, Julie Ciot
The Museum today unveiled its newly landscaped outdoor spaces. The MMFA and the Jardin botanique, one of Espace pour la vie’s five museums, worked together to entirely redesign the green spaces, thanks to a transformational donation from generous Montreal patrons. The gardens now comprise over 8,000 plants that contribute to urban biodiversity and pollination. Intersecting the five pavilions of the Museum complex, the new landscaping conceived by NIPPAYSAGE beautifully shows off the Museum’s remarkable collection of public artworks, made up of some twenty sculptures by renowned artists.
Stretching across sections of Bishop Street, Du Musée Avenue and Sherbrooke Street West, the new landscape design enhances the attractiveness of this lively historical neighbourhood that houses Concordia University, numerous businesses and several private residences. The abounding vegetation turns these outdoor spaces into an artistic scene, and a place for relaxing and entertainment that’s even more inviting for Montreal citizens and the city’s visitors.
Biodiversity at the heart of the plantings
The flowerbeds bordering the Museum and Ville-Marie Borough’s curb extensions are now populated with over 8,000 plants that are adapted to the local climate: 72 shrubs, 8 climbing plants, 6,308 perennials, and 2,093 bulbs that will yield a succession of blooms over several seasons, starting next spring. This diverse flora, comprising over 45 indigenous species, green metallic bees. What is more, the addition of three tall shrubs – a nannyberry, downy serviceberry and alternate-leaved dogwood – help bolster the canopy.
From its southern to its northern borders, the Museum’s landscaping gradually transitions from species typical of the horticultural gardens seen in the Golden Square Mile, like tulips, purple coneflowers and hydrangeas, to a selection of species that characterize the forested ecosystem of Mount Royal, such as sensitive ferns, heartleaf foamflower and downy Solomon’s seal. In total, over 240 square meters of grassy terrain and 62 square meters of mineral surface have been transformed into a diversified plant bed, thus increasing the biomass and fostering a better habitat quality for biodiversity.
The MMFA aspires to improve the population’s quality of life while minimizing its ecological footprint, in accordance with one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. As a certified My Space for Life Garden, this environmentally responsible project is one of the Museum’s flagship sustainable development initiatives. It incorporates modulable furniture, the reuse of dismantled materials, as well as the preservation and enhancement of existing trees.
A project made possible thanks in part to support from Jess and Mark Pathy
A key part of this large-scale project was made possible thanks to a donation of $1.2 million from patrons Jess and Mark Pathy under the 2023-2028 Major Fundraising Campaign, named The Museum Transforms Lives. Jess Pathy is deeply committed to the MMFA’ s mission and sits on the institution’s Board of Trustees. This major contribution from the Pathys served as a lever in bringing this project to life by ensuring its longevity. Close to half of the donation will be dedicated to the maintenance and continual enhancement of the Museum’s gardens in the years to come, in particular by putting in place a program of highcalibre activities on Du Musée Avenue that encourage civic engagement.
