How about turning Montreal's old Metro cars into a café?
In thinking of ways to recycle Montreal's soon-to-be-replaced Metro cars, it seems there is no shortage of creative ideas.
First, a group from the Mile End proposed using the old cars to build a pedestrian bridge. Now two brothers are going public with their plan to turn the cars into a community space and all-round architectural marvel.
Frédéric and Étienne Morin-Bordeleau, self-described social entrepreneurs, want to see eight metro cars turned into a three-floor exhibition hall, café and outdoor terrasse. They promise a décor that will make visitors believe they're riding the Metro through the air.
Helping out local entrepreneurs
The café would be on the first floor, the second floor would be the exhibition space and the third would be the terrasse. The project is designed to promote local entrepreneurs and artisans.
The brothers are planning to juggle a roster of small product suppliers to keep the café menu fresh, all while prioritizing local, organic and fair trade foods.
There's also an environmental component — the project will feature a green roof and solar panels. And the design will even feature removable poles, similar to the ones currently in the Metro cars.
"We especially want to focus on those who are starting out and who have little visibility," said Frédéric Morin-Bordeleau, who is also a co-founder of SOCENT, a network of social entrepreneurs.
Frédéric and Étienne envision exhibitions lasting between a month and a half and two months, and they would partner with different festivals and art institutions in the city to find exhibitors.
They're also planning on creating a permanent exhibition on the STM and the history of the metro. The space would be available to rent for private events or public launches.
The brothers estimate the project will cost about $3.5 million.
Sud-Ouest support but no word from STM
The brothers' plan would need approval from Montreal's transit agency, the STM, before going ahead. In March, the agency launched a call for ideas about how it should reuse its old cars.
They have about 30 proposals so far. They will announce a list of finalists on Oct. 14.
But that hasn't stopped Southwest borough Mayor Benoit Dorais from expressing support for the Morin-Bordeleau idea.
"The borough is looking into the possibility of finding municipal land [for the project]," Dorais said.
"There aren't many but there are some sites that are being studied. They will be proposed to the council members at the end of the summer and after we'll take it to the people."
The new Metro cars, also known as AZUR, are slowly being introduced into service. The full fleet is scheduled to be delivered by 2018.
