Parc Frederic-Back in Montreal’s Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough, is a fascinating example of how landscape architecture can transform a heavily altered industrial site into a public green space.

The site has had several very different lives. Originally a limestone quarry, it was subsequently used as a landfill before undergoing a major transformation into a large urban park. Once the redevelopment is complete, Parc Frédéric-Back will be one of Montreal’s largest urban parks.

What makes the landscape particularly distinctive is the relationship between the natural environment, the remnants of the site’s industrial past and the infrastructure required to manage it. Scattered across the park are a series of large white spheres, which immediately stand out against the surrounding landscape.

These unusual structures aren’t simply sculptural elements. They protect biogas collection wells installed throughout the former landfill. The wells collect the methane-rich gas produced by the decomposition of organic material beneath the park, which is then used to generate energy at a nearby biogas power plant.

I was particularly interested in photographing these spheres as part of the landscape rather than treating them simply as pieces of infrastructure. Their repeated forms create an almost surreal quality, while their bright white surfaces contrast with the surrounding grass and vegetation.

Parc Frédéric-Back is a good example of how landscape architecture can bring together environmental remediation, public recreation, infrastructure and design. A site that once served industrial and waste-management purposes is being given an entirely different role in the life of the city.

As a landscape architectural photographer in Montreal, I’m interested in documenting this kind of transformation: the relationship between designed spaces, infrastructure, architecture and the people who ultimately use them. My work covers landscape architecture, public spaces, urban development and the wider built environment for architects, landscape architects, designers, developers, institutions and publications.

Based in Montreal, I’m available for landscape architectural photography assignments throughout Quebec, Canada and internationally.

See more of my architectural photography