History and architecture: one street at a time in Quebec City

[davidivivid]

I've decided to take a lot of urban pictures this summer but instead of posting random pics, I thought it would be more interesting to present these pictures through an historical and architectural perspective. To be more coherent (and since it's a lot of work!!), I've decided to do it one street at a time. I thought it would be a great way to learn more our cities... I hope those interested in history as well as architecture will find this thread interesting!!!

So, here is a great example: the St-Pierre street in Quebec City. As you can see on the following map, the surface area of the Old Port was very small in 1650 and the North part of St-Pierre Street was under water whereas the south part of the street was accessible. This situation has had a very interesting impact on the aspect of the street from South to North.

On the south side, the style is French and bears witness to the period of New France. The north side has an English influence. Crossing the street is like travelling from one country to another. What’s more, the buildings and their signs speak volumes about the neighbourhood's transformation, which took place in the late 19th century. Major financial institutions moved into the area, breathing economic vitality into this sector of the city. The Banque de Québec building is an eloquent reminder.

From south to north, you can also move from one era to another. The different materials used to build houses, the street paving, the road markings on rue Saint-Antoine, the Estèbe House, the Musée de la civilisation and the rue de la Barricade all provide numerous opportunities to discover traces of the past .

http://www.mcq.org/place-royale/lieux.php?id=41#2





This is the beginning of the northern, more recent part of the street. The wave pattern on the ground symbolizes the fact that the St-Lawrence river used to reach this part of town.


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Place de la FAO par davidivivid, sur Flickr


The street isn't very long, about 600 meters, yet it's influence on the City and the Province was very important.

At the turn of the 20th century, eight banks, around twenty insurance companies and around a dozen stockbrokers, as well as numerous law firms and notary offices, lined Rue Saint-Pierre, on the north side of Rue du Porche. These establishments attested to the district’s new financial importance and even their architecture signalled the change in regime. The buildings clearly showed an English influence: they were much taller than the buildings the French had constructed and were made of freestone or brick.

In the early 20th century, Rue Saint-Pierre was dubbed "the Wall Street of Canada."

http://www.mcq.org/place-royale/en/lieux.php?id=38


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Rue St-Pierre par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Canadian Bank of Commerce, built in 1900. Also housed the American consulate in 1927.

The fountain-sculpture in the form of the bow of a ship commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), founded in Québec City in 1945.

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Bank of Commerce par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Headquarters of the Dominion Fish & Fruit company built in 1912. It was the first real highrise in Quebec City.

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Dominion Building par davidivivid, sur Flickr


This building, built in 1902, first housed the Quebec Stock Exchange. It later became a branch of the Hochelaga Bank (which later fusionned with the National Bank).

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Hochelaga Bank par davidivivid, sur Flickr


The last two buildings have now merged to become the hotel Le Germain-Dominion. This is the flagship boutique hotel of the Germain hotel chain, which is becoming an household name in Canada. This particular hotel is often named "Best Hotel in Canada".

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Hôtel Le Germain-Dominion par davidivivid, sur Flickr

Bank of British North America, now the office of a cruise ship company.

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Bank of British North America par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Imperial Bank of Canada - opened in 1875.

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Imperial Bank of Canada par davidivivid, sur Flickr

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Imperial Bank of Canada par davidivivid, sur Flickr


First branch of the Bank of Montreal besides its headquarters in Montreal - 1818

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Bank of Montreal par davidivivid, sur Flickr


This branch of the Bank of Montreal soon proved to be too small so a bigger building was built on the other side of the road.

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Bank of Montreal par davidivivid, sur Flickr

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Bank of Montreal par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Headquarters of the Quebec Bank, founded in 1818 - second oldest chartered bank in Canada after the bank of Montreal. Moved to this location in 1862 and fusionned with the Royal Bank of Canada in 1917.

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Quebec Bank par davidivivid, sur Flickr


The building is now a part of the Quebec Civilization Museum. I love how some of the stones of the first floor were carved. It gives great texture to the facade.

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Quebec Bank par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Maison Estèbe

Built in 1751, the Estèbe House is a prime example of an urban residence of the early 18th century. With a façade that spans 20 by 15 metres, and 21 rooms heated by eight fireplaces, this stately home is a masterpiece of Québec’s architectural heritage.

http://www.mcq.org/place-royale/en/lieux.php?id=38#39


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Maison Estèbe par davidivivid, sur Flickr



The Estèbe House is now a part of Quebec's Civilization Museum (with its signature glass tower), designed by Moshe Safdie.

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Maison Estèbe - Musée de la Civilisation par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Molson's Bank - now a cooking school!

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IMG_0679 par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Telegraph Building built in 1856 by architects Staveley & Dunlevie. Quebec had been linked to Montreal by telegraph since 1847. The coat of arms above the entrance is that of the Great North Western Telegraph Company, which had its headquarters here for some time.

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Telegraph Building par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Headquarters of the Quebec Assurance Company, the first insurance company in Canada. Building built in 1821 and now the Auberge St-Pierre, an hotel.
http://memoireduquebec.com/wiki/inde...ifices_publics

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Quebec Insurance Building par davidivivid, sur Flickr

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Compagnie d'Assurances de Québec par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Ancient headquarters of the National Bank of Canada, founded in Quebec City in 1859. The bank moved to this building in 1862. The National Bank fusionned with the Hochelaga Bank in 1924 and its headquarter was moved to Montreal. It is now a popular 4 stars boutique hotel: Le 71.

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Hôtel Le 71 par davidivivid, sur Flickr


It is one of my favourite building in Quebec City. I love how sleek it is, especially considering it was built 150 years ago.

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Hôtel Le 71 par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Ancient headquarters of the Union Bank of Canada (founded in Quebec City), built in 1865. Merged with the Royal Bank of Canada in 1925. It is now the Institut de l'Energie et de l'Environnement de la Francophonie.

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Institut de l'Energie et de l'Environnement de la Francophonie par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Merchants Bank of Canada - 1868. Fusionned with the Bank of Montreal in 1922.

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IMG_0707 par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Banque du Peuple - 1880. Went bankrupt in 1895.

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Rue St-Pierre par davidivivid, sur Flickr


South side of St-Pierre street. Buildings in this area are on average 100 years older than on the North side of the street.

The architecture on the south side of Rue Saint-Pierre bears the mark of French craftsmen. Many of the houses are made of limestone from Beauport or Neuville.

The day after the British Conquest, Place-Royale was in ruins. But the neighbourhood managed to rise from the ashes and it was rebuilt in the same style in the following years. The same craftsmen remained, and they continued to use their own methods.

http://www.mcq.org/place-royale/lieux.php?id=38#3

General store of Joseph Drapeau, built in 1782. On this site used to stand the first general store in North America (built in 1659 by the Gagnon brothers).

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Magasin Général Joseph Drapeau - 1782 par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Park of the UNESCO, commemorating Quebec City's status as a World Heritage site.

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Parc de l'UNESCO par davidivivid, sur Flickr

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Parc de l'UNESCO par davidivivid, sur Flickr


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IMG_0726 par davidivivid, sur Flickr

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Rue St-Pierre Sud par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Finally, the end of the South side of the St-Pierre street. You can see the name of the street on the bottom right of the picture.

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Rue St-Pierre par davidivivid, sur Flickr


Allright, that's it. Hope you liked the ride!

[skymantle]

Originally Posted by davidivivid

The building is now a part of the Quebec Civilization Museum. I love how some of the stones of the first floor were carved. It gives great texture to the facade.

image hosted on flickr

The carving, or more than likely moulding of the stonework is known as vermiculation, meaning 'worming' as in the shape of worm tracks, and was an alternative to rustication of ground level buildings, in an attempt to give them texture.

This historic city has a wealth of beautiful buildings, every single one of them are handsome, and the descriptions you give adds interest. So far I'm likin the trip. Looking forward to more.

[Nightsky]

Beautiful city, looks French!

[christos-greece]

Beautiful, very nice photos from Quebec

[openlyJane]

I did not know that Quebec was a World Heritage City; for what, in particular, was it awarded this status?

It certainly looks very handsome.

[ToroTO]

Very nice photos, thanks for posting.

Details on UNESCO designation:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/300

[hellospank25]

Originally Posted by openlyJane

I did not know that Quebec was a World Heritage City; for what, in particular, was it awarded this status?

It certainly looks very handsome.

It is the only remaining city in North America to have fortified city walls (they have remained intact since they were built in 1759)

[BringMe]

Awesome job!

very interesting Quebec is my #1 place in Canada I totally love it!

[alexander2000]

nice thread.

[edubejar]

The very old, grey stone houses of Quebec City dating back to colonial times (like the Esbèbe House you show) remind me specifically of the houses and buildings in Saint-Malo, France. What is funny is that Jacques Cartier sailed out from Saint-Malo (or was from Saint-Malo) in route for New France/Saint Laurance River in North America.

[edubejar]

Either Saint-Malo, France has a similar flag to Quebec or there are Quebec flags on this street in Saint-Malo. I even noticed that the style of windows in many buildings in Saint-Malo look like those in colonial buildings of Quebec City.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Saint-...2,98.7,,0,0.03

[Taller, Better]

Wonderful pictures of the most beautiful city in Canada! I'm also shocked that the National Bank of Canada was built so long ago as it is a much more modern looking structure. Superb photos and look forward to more!

[Chadoh25]

WONDERFUL!!!!

[davidivivid]

Thanks guys!! I recently took many pictures along Grande Allée, formerly known as The King's Road so I'll have another street to talk about fairly soon.

[MyGeorge]

awesome city.
this is one of my to see places.