Created as part of the complex’s transformation into a creative hub, the garden was developed following waterproofing work on the underlying concrete slab, which required the outdoor spaces to be reconfigured. Guided by a conservation plan developed in collaboration with the Ministère de la Culture, bringing together history and modernity. Limestone, a defining feature of Sherbrooke Street’s heritage architecture, plays a central role in the design, helping to structure the space. Stone planters define the planting areas, while bands of paving create rhythm throughout.

Inspired by the life and career of Hugh Graham, Baron Atholstan and publisher of the Montreal Star, inlaid typographic bands highlight the values of Maison Alcan. They complement Daniel Knorr’s Navel of the World (2017), a sculptural work that visitors pass through on their way to the main entrance.

Groundcovers, shrubs and low-growing vegetation frame views of the architecture, while serviceberry trees add delicate blooms. At dusk, subtle lighting casts the garden in a new light.