Nuns' Island gas station facts for kids
The Nun's Island gas station was a special kind of building in Montreal. It was built in 1969 in a style called modernist, which means it had a very clean, simple, and functional design. The famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is often given credit for its design, but it was actually Joe Fujikawa, who worked for Mies, who was the main architect for the project.
This building was the very first gas station on Nun's Island. It was built for a company called Imperial Oil. After many years, the gas station closed down. But instead of tearing it down, the building was given a new life! It was turned into a fun and helpful community centre for everyone to enjoy.
A New Life: The Community Centre
The local government of Verdun decided to change the old gas station into a place for art and community activities. They named it La Station. An architect named Eric Gauthier led the project to transform the building.
The original building had two main glass sections, like big glass boxes. These were rebuilt to be their original sizes: one about 3,000 square feet and the other about 1,000 square feet.
What Happens at La Station?
La Station is a special place for two main groups of people: teenagers and adults over 50 years old. It's a spot where they can meet, learn, and have fun together.
The two main buildings inside La Station have cool names based on their floor colors. One is called the salle blanche, which means "white room" in English. The other is called the salle noire, meaning "black room".
The small glass booth where the gas station attendant used to sit is now a display case. It shows off the history of Mies van der Rohe and the building itself. Even the spots where the gas pumps used to be are marked by special ventilation shafts.
This modern community centre also uses geothermal energy. This is a very eco-friendly way to heat and cool the building, using the natural heat from the Earth!
