Visitors to Montréal can now discover the metamorphosis of the city’s new Insectarium, which opened its doors to the public this month. A completely redesigned experience at the venue, which opened in 1990 as part of the Espaces pour la vie museums, gives visitors the chance to literally see the world through the perspective of insects, and in the process, changing the way they look at these living beings.
As visitors enter the Alcoves – inspired by the habitat of insects – they see the world as if they were an insect themselves. Vibrations in the floor suggest sounds as perceived by insects; projected ultraviolet effects mimic an insect’s vision, while the configuration of the space encourages one to move around like an insect, either by slipping through cracks or dangling on vertical rods.
After this first eye-opening experience, it’s time for a tête-à-tête with insects in an intimate atmosphere, where they can be observed, even contemplated, at leisure in immersive vivariums. Then, after viewing the collection of naturalized insects presented like nowhere else inside the massive dome, a setting that emphasizes their beauty and diversity, the underground environment gives way to a space that looks like a giant greenhouse bathed in natural light, the Great Vivarium.
This space allows interactions with over 100 species of insects roaming about –including free-flying butterflies all year round. Among the species of butterflies on display, some have never been presented to the public before!
Experience-driven architecture
The new Montréal Insectarium is a unique project where museology and visitor experience informed the architecture, and not the other way around. To rethink the museum, the architects drew inspiration from the various insect habitats –nests, chambers, galleries, vegetation and soil.
To ensure every decision was grounded in the reality of the insects, it was not unusual for someone to place an insect on a conference room table in order to verify their anticipated behaviour. The design of the new building also applies the principles of biophilia to ensure a harmonious integration with the immediate environment of the Jardin botanique, and to minimize its visual impact for the good of nature.
The new Insectarium is aiming for LEED Gold certification, and its Great Vivarium is the first curtain-wall greenhouse to receive this recognition in Quebec.
Mobile app
As a complement to the visit, the Espace pour la vie mobile application (Insectarium module) provides a wealth of information on the naturalized and living species on display at the museum. The application is easy to use and literally follows visitors as they make their way along, providing quick access to more information. Tablets are available in the various rooms of the museum for those who do not have smart devices and who would like to use the app.
Espace pour la vie
The new Montréal Insectarium is now priced the same as all other Espace pour la vie museums: the Biodôme, the Biosphère, the Jardin botanique, and the Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan, which form Canada’s largest natural science museum complex. Together, they are designed to present a “daring, creative urban movement, encouraging all of us to rethink the connection between humankind and nature and cultivate a new way of living.”
Timed tickets are required for entry, and the new Espace pour la vie Passport is a offers unlimited access to all five Espace pour la vie museums all year round.