Les Boucaneries
Île Verte, a 14-kilometer-long island in the Saint Lawrence River, is defined by its rocky shores battered by Nordet winds, cliffs overlooking the vast estuary, and a patchwork of meadows and dense spruce forests. Twelve captivating smokehouses, known as boucaneries, were built in the 1920s to withstand harsh climates, standing as a testament to the ingenuity of its inhabitants.
With the decline of fishing and the introduction of hygiene regulations, these structures have fallen into disuse. Six of them are in an advanced or critical state of deterioration, despite their significant heritage value. To support the Verdoyant’s desire to preserve this built heritage and ensure its longevity, Atelier Pierre Thibault has initiated a participatory design project aimed at identifying new uses to repurpose them.
Erected in response to vernacular constructions, the new structures leverage the simplicity and efficiency of contemporary wood assemblies. These slender white frameworks, like ghosts of the future, reveal new relationships between the environment, volumetry, and the local community. Renowned for its work in ephemeral installations for decades, Atelier Pierre Thibault showcases its ability to bring together a wide range of participants in a creative project that reimagines Quebec’s landscapes with a forward-thinking, delicate, and inspiring approach.
