Expo 67 - Montreal
"Man and His World"
Introduction
Pavilion Passports at Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal Canada was not supposed to be located in Montreal at all, but instead in Moscow Russia. Due to a variety of factors including “the six day war” and various economic constraints, the Soviets withdrew from hosting the expo and the torch then was passed to the Canadians. Although the Expo was initially intended to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, it ended up symbolizing the Canadian Centennial, “a yearlong celebration held in 1967 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.”(Centennial, WIKI) Widely considered to be the most successful worlds fair of all time, the International and Universal Exposition of 1967 had “the most attendees to date and 62 nations” as participants.(Expo 67, WIKI) Boasting an estimated 54 million visitors during its duration, the Montreal Expo of 1967 was perhaps one of the most diverse worlds fairs to occur on North American soil. Due to the limited amount of time that Canadian officials had to design the event, “many top organizing officials resigned.”(Expo 67, WIKI) In the aftermath of the resignations, Canadian diplomatic officer Pierre Dupuy took control of the Commissioner General’s position and began raising money abroad for the construction of the Expo 67 fairgrounds. Dupuy’s “right hand man… Robert Fletcher Shaw, the Deputy Commissioner General,” was a professional architect who has been credited with actually designing Expo 67.(Expo 67, WIKI)
Cultural Context
Aboriginal Land Rights March(1963-1968)
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal Canada was a culturally and economically complex event that took place during a period of social upheaval and change. Just a mere two years prior, massive demonstrations had rocked the city of Ontario as “four hundred Aboriginal men and women, many bused in from close-by reserves gathered… and prepared to march.”(Rutherford, 2017) As the 1960’s marked a time of upheaval and racial tensions in the United States, this too took root in Canada. When attempting to situate the International and Universal Exposition of 1967 it is critical to understand that the anxieties of native Aboriginal peoples “were often expressed by comparing Aboriginal inequality and resistance in “the North” to understandings of black and white life in the American south.”(Rutherford, 2017) These tensions and anxieties were not even close to being resolved by the time the ‘97 Expo occurred and provided a backdrop for what was to come.
Saskatchewan Doctors Strike (Jul1-Jul23 1962)
Established through legislation passed in 1957 and 1966 respectively the Canadian Medicare system is one of the premiere single payer healthcare systems in the world. However at the time of its establishment there was a lot of push back against the government. During this time doctors began to go on strike in an effort to leverage the government to reverse its decision. The doctors, combined with, “KOD (keep our doctors) Committees, with support from the media, launched a well-organized campaign against the government and the Medicare plan.(CBC, 2001) These additional social tensions and anxieties were also still present at the time of the ‘97 Expo, further dividing Canadians amongst themselves.
Fashion at Expo '67
A myriad of social political tensions all served to impact the ‘97 Expo, and its ability to make money. “By the end of July, estimates predicted that the Expo would exceed 60 million visitors, but the strike” of transit workers prior to the Expo, “cut deeply into attendance and revenue figures.”(Wiki, Expo 97) In addition to the protests and picketing that impacted revenue was a lack of lodging. In order to accommodate the massive influx of people attending the event “the Montreal populace opened their homes to thousands of guests. Unfortunately for some visitors, they were sometimes sent to less than reputable establishments.”(Wiki, Expo 97) Despite the initial economic disaster that officials expected the Expo did alright. Although the “Expo was intended to have a deficit, shared between the federal provincial, and municipal levels of government,” fundamentally unlike the Columbian Exposition of 1893, the deficit was much less than expected.(Wiki, Expo 97)
Design
The design of the 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal Canada has had a long lasting impact on the architecture of the city, and pushed boundaries at the time of what “housing” would look like in the future. Perhaps one of the strangest buildings constructed for the ‘67 Exposition was “Habitat 67” which was designed by Moshe Safdie. The odd hodge-podge concrete structure resembles a jenga tower of apartment complexes, interconnected and rising up into the skyline. Habitat ‘67 represented this idea of “man and his world” which was the theme of the Expo, and how man would inhabit the new world. “During the Expo, visitors could explore a prototype apartment and witness firsthand” Moshe’s vision of “affordable, modern urban living,” in the 21st century.(Plourde-Archer, 2013)
Habitat '67, Montreal Canada
When thinking about the design of the 1967 International and Universal Exposition it is critical to understand Brutalist architecture and the brutalist movement that was at its peak in 1967. New Brutalism, a term coined in 1950, “is not only an architectural style; it is also a philosophical approach to architectural design, striving to create simple, honest and functional buildings that accommodate their purpose.”(Wiki, Brutalist architecture) This can be seen in the Habitat ‘67 example, the original plan for which contained, “over 1,000 residences alongside shops and a school.”(Frearson, 2014) This new way of thinking about living was a global phenomenon, and even impacted us here in Minneapolis. At the University of Minnesota alone, the Brutalist style of architecture is everywhere, from the Moos Health Sciences Tower on East bank, to The Chateau, a private apartment complex in Dinkytown.
United States "Biosphere," 1967 Exposition in Montreal Canada
With prominent structures like the Montreal Biosphere serving as the United States contribution to the Expo, and the gigantic Moscow Pavilion serving as the USSR’s the Montreal ‘67 Exposition contained outstanding feats of architectural craftsmanship. Although western architecture and achievements were widely celebrated at the ‘67 Expo, many were left out. For example, “architects and architectural historians generally have not considered” the Korean pavilion to be significant, “because it was regarded as a temporary structure constructed for the Montreal Expo ‘67.”(Seo, 2017) Although the designs implemented for the 1967 Montreal Expo were unique and transformative, the decisions surrounding what should be applauded and what was considered insignificant have served to transform the 21st century.
Construction Techniques
The suburban site in the village of Sainte-Genevieve on the West Island of Montreal was occupied by a Jesuit monastery that had been built in the early 1930s according to the plans of Lucien Parent. This basically modern building, heavily garbed in neo-romanesque stone-work, dominates a hillock between the village and the Riviere-des-Prairies. Its beautiful exposure to the water on the north side and its austere closure toward the village presented the architects--Saucier + Perrotte working in joint venture with Desnoyers Mercure et associes--with a difficult task, for what the site offered in character, it threatened to take away from its new identity. The streets leading to the college are closely ranged by nondescript houses and shops, but the gentle slopes of the monastic site still mark the territory and mask the view to the river.
The former novitiate is a somewhat forbidding structure with an exposed ferro-concrete skeleton under a ponderous mantle of regional stone. Having to accommodate the large spaces, classrooms, labs, and offices of a Cegep, the architects needed to find a way of doubling the volume of the existing monastery while renovating and integrating it with their addition. They hit upon a strategy which acknowledged the predicament while enlarging the problem still further, but it also helped them to reach an exceptional solution. With funding available for the establishment of cultural sites in the far-flung communities of the region, a sizable theatre was added to the college. Housed below grade, alongside a sunken gymnasium, but opening onto an outdoor area on the riverbank, this facility establishes both a link between the existing monastery and the new wing as well as laying an almost invisible axis across them. Led by chief designer Gilles Saucier, the architects turned one of the calamities arising from the conversion of the monastery into a modern college to singular advantage and to lasting benefit for the entire community. Moreover, their new wing turns the tables on the old, accomplishing the difficult task of matching the existing monastery, while creating a virtually unique structure of its own.
Upon approaching the site from the village, a twin row of scraggy pines--said to have been planted as a windbreak for the novices pacing the grounds--hold the line against the curving roadway that leads up to the college. Two light monitors tilt up from the ground and alert the visitor to the subterranean space lit through their canted cubes. To the rear, an open amphitheatre matches the auditorium below ground and, in good weather, allows the public to be accommodated both in front and back of the stage. As the theatre is intended to serve the community as well as the college, additional funding permitted its size and equipment to reach a professional level. Saucier + Perrotte's idea to orient the theatre crosswise to the axis of the new wing has several advantages: placing the auditorium and stage below grade relieves pressure on the volume of space and the bulk of the building, while maintaining the gentle slope of the site. It also takes advantage of the steep drop in level toward the river, where outdoor seating has been located. Furthermore, the open view to the landscape can greatly enhance certain kinds of performances.
Transportation
The location of the fair created a unique problem of getting into the actual fair grounds as well traveling in between fair grounds. The fair grounds were split into three separate areas which are each disconnected from each other by water and two of the fair grounds are islands. Thus the importance of local transportation and air ground transportation become evident. In total there was 10 types of transportation.
- Expo Express, La Balade (bus/train, would run on normal pavement), Expo Bus, Hovercraft, The Metro, Minirail, Pedicab (person on bike would bike two riders around), Sky Ride (gondola, enclosed ski lift), Vaporetto (ferry trips), Jacques Cartier Bridge (from the Île Sainte-Hélène pavilion)
Fair Grounds - Expo Express, La Balade, Minirail, Pedicab, Sky Ride, Hovercraft Locally - Expo Bus, The Metro, Vaporetto, Jacques Cartier Bridge Nationally - Montreal was a major city thus many large roadways such as 20, 10, and 15 which all lead straight into Montreal, Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport Internationally - Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (located in Dorval, 15 miles from fair ground)
The Metro
“Montreal Metro Circa 1967.” Reposti, 2017, reposti.com/p/fpI.
The Metro in 1967 consisted of only three lines, orange, green and yellow. This provided adequate transportation around the city of Montreal from the event. The metro is represented in three separate lines orange, green and orange.
Expo Express
Thoroe. “Montréal Expo 67 Site Map.” Wikimedia Commons, 3 Aug. 2010, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/.
The ExpoExpress was a train that would transport large amounts of passengers from 5 different stops. This was a true people mover in order to get people in and out of the fair grounds itself. The ExpoExpress is represented as the red line in the map.
MiniRail
“MiniRail.” Academic, 2010, enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11747457.
The MiniRail was a set of three separate elevated railways that would carry a large amount of passengers. The purpose of these railways were more-so to get a fantastic view of special areas of the fair. Plus many went directly over water making it almost an attraction. There were three sets of MiniRails all represented in various shades of blue and purple on the map.
Technology and Exhibits
Circle Vision 360 Camera, Developed by Walt Disney CO.
The Montreal Exposition of 1967 was home to many technological, cultural, and architectural innovations. One of the more interesting innovations that was prominently displayed at the Expo was Walt Disney’s “Circle-Vision 360” film viewing device. Showcased to audiences ranging from 1,000-1,500 people every 30 minutes in the Bell Telephone Pavilion, “Circle-Vision 360 is a film technique, refined by Walt Disney Company, that uses nine cameras for nine huge screens arranged in a circle.”(Disney Wiki) The first documentary film to be captured using the technology, Canada ‘67 premiered in its full 360 degree glory at Expo 67. The technology, both revolutionary in its ability to capture and present film, paved the way for modern Imax and 3D movie technologies.
Telephone Pavilion
Much of the technology shown during Expo 67 focused on predicting the future. One pavilion, The Telephone Pavillion, tried to show the world the future of communication. One main feature was the videophone demonstration that allowed fair-goers to make video calls to people in other cities around Montreal. Similar to FaceTime, this video phone procured an image of both participants during the call. Another telecommunication technology included telephone banking. This consists of talking to a banker to perform financial transactions over the phone which is very similar to online banking we have today.
Gemini 7 during launch in 1965
In the year 1967 the USSR and the United States were embroiled in what has now been dubbed “the space race” to see which super power would dominate the interstellar frontier. Critical to this peacocking of the United States and the capabilities of the capitalist system were the various rockets, and space capsules on display at Expo 67. Inside the gigantic biosphere designed by Buckminster Fuller, “visitors were greeted to seven levels of exhibits showcasing… Hollywood, popular music, and contemporary art.”(Byrnes, 2017) In contrast to the exhibits that conveyed “an ironic and campy side of America,” the American Pavilion at Expo 67 was also home to the U.S. space exhibit.(Byrnes, 2017) Featuring the “Freedom 7, Gemini 7 and a flown Apollo capsule” the United States space program exhibit at Expo 67 was a testament to the power of capitalism and the impending victory of the west over communism.(Anderson Et Al. 2008)
After the Fair
Ontario Pavilion Fire (July 19th, 1975)
The Montreal Expo of 1967 ended 2 days later than expected on October 29th, 1967 to allow it to stay open for one last weekend. The fair produced a financial deficit of over 200 Million dollars which was significantly less than expected (Expo 67, 2021). Once the Expo ended, many of the pavilions continued to stand as a new exhibit called The Man and His World. The new attraction was relatively popular in its earlier years but over time, many of the pavilions started to deteriorate. Two buildings including the Buckminster Fuller’s dome and the Ontario pavilion were both damaged by fire in the 70’s however, the Buckminster Fuller’s dome (Now known as the Montreal biosphere) was rebuilt and still stands to this day (Tucker, 2019). After some time, Notre Dame island was closed and reconstructed into new buildings for the 1976 Summer Olympics, destroying most of the last pavilions on the island. In 1980, both Saint Helen's island and Notre Dame island were finally accessible again for The Man and His World exhibition but 4 years later in 1984, the attraction was permanently closed.
After the original closing of The Man and His world, a park opened in its place in 1992 named Parc Des îles and renamed Parc Jean-Drapeau after the mayor of Montreal during 1967 Jean Drapeau who originally brought the exhibition to Montreal. The Park was recently renovated in 2017 to commemorate the 375th anniversary of Montreal. Within the park, a few attractions from 1967 still stand including the Montreal Biosphere and the Trois Disques sculpture. The Olympic Basin from 1976 is still used as a housing for a local rowing club. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve which houses the Canadian Grand Prix was also built on Notre Dame Island in 1978 and still stands to this day.
Aerial View of the Newly Renovated Expo 67 (October 25th, 2019)
Although this Expo was held nearly 54 years ago, the impact it had on Montreal and its people was significant. From being one of the most profitable World’s fairs to ever exist in 1967, to the continued success it receives today, Montreal will be known as one of the most impactful events in Montreal History.
Conclusion
Over the years, the world’s fair was a place to show the world what your Country has to offer and Expo 67 was no different. New technology filled every pavilion with the hope to predict the future with much success. Many of the technology we know today like Facetime and 360 cameras were introduced but in a much more basic way. The planners who came up with the ideas within Expo 67 predicted the future very well, especially with genres like architecture and technology. The city of Montreal proved to the world that technology is our future.
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