Last month I the opportunity to go to the Joliette metro station. As you might have suspected, I found it very cool (the general critical consensus is that it isn’t all that hot). Finished, just in time for the 1976 Olympics, it was one of two metro stations designed by Marcel Raby. M. Raby was an architect for the city of Montreal and the only other thing that I can find that he worked on was the dome of Marché Bonsecours in 1978 after it had had a fire. But my guess would be there is lots more, it’s just not on the internet.
The southern entrance to Métro Joliette.The southern entrance to Métro Joliette.The southern entrance to Métro Joliette.The southern entrance to Métro Joliette.The southern entrance to Métro Joliette.The rear of the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.The rear of the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.The northern entrance to Métro Joliette.The northern entrance to Métro Joliette.The northern entrance to Métro Joliette.
While quite a lot of people don’t like the yellow bricks and the rather pedestrian nature of the buildings. I was enchanted by the color on a gray and snowy day. And just about pee’d my pants in delight when I discovered the back entrance which leads to an alleyway (ruelle in Montreal-speak).
Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.
I was particularly enamored of the bright red/pink tile walls and matching seats. I betcha dollars to doughnuts that M. Raby was a fan of Pop and Op art. After 35 years, some of the brightness has faded, but nonetheless.
Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Going down the escalator inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.
I’ve now become particularly fond of these types of views in the metro. Some are better than others. This one is particularly fetching due to the size of the empty space above the escalators and the symmetry of the concrete beams.
Going down the escalator inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Windows inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Windows inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Windows inside the southern entrance to Métro Joliette.Textured concrete walls at the Métro Joliette.Corridor connection the two entrances to the Métro Joliette.Looking up at ceiling in the Métro Joliette.
Sorry that I couldn’t get this straighter, each time I tried, I got dizzy.
Looking up at concrete beams in the southern entrance to the Métro Joliette.The dépanneur in the Métro Joliette.More of the corridor at the Métro Joliette.Inside the northern entrance of Métro Joliette.Inside the northern entrance of Métro Joliette.
That red/pink tile wall is awesome!
Inside the northern entrance of Métro Joliette.Inside the northern entrance of Métro Joliette.Inside the northern entrance of Métro Joliette.Inside the northern entrance of Métro Joliette.Inside the northern entrance of Métro Joliette.Close up of the tile work on the red/pink wall at Métro Joliette.Looking down the escalator in the northern entrance at Métro Joliette.Up where the ceiling meets the wall in the northern entrance at Métro Joliette.Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.
But this was what took my breath away. Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby. The art embedded into a stainless stell wall of the station. Some kind of glass and resin combination with lights behind. Obviously, 35 years on, some of the lights are no longer working. Yes, it is simplistic, but it is also joyous, bright and colorful. The neighborhood where Métro Joliette is located is gray and dreary even on the brightest summer day. This makes everything better. If I had to use Métro Joliette, each time I passed it, guaranteed, I would get some some sort of goofy ear to ear grin.
I could foam at the mouth for hours on end as to how the residents of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve have been systematically denied any kick-ass art (there is only one amazing sculpture in the whole borough that I know of. And two others have have been neutered to the point where they are (or were) irrelevant). But I won’t. There is a time and a place for everything.
Detail of Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Detail of Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Detail of Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Detail of Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Detail of Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Detail of Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Detail of Thème des mouvements du soleil by Marcel Raby at the Métro Joliette.Yellow brick wall, red/pink tile spot at the Métro Joliette.The barrel roof of the transept at the Métro Joliette.A platform at the Métro Joliette.
OK, maybe the critics are right, the platforms are dull. But at most you’re only going to spend 12 minutes on one – after midnight on a weekday – and most of the time it’ll be less than seven minutes.
Looking the other way down a platform at the Métro Joliette.Brown tiles of various hues and tones on the platform at the Métro Joliette.
