Méandre
SDC de l'Avenue du Mont-Royal

Méandre (Meander) is the new summer street furniture for Mont-Royal Avenue, a flexible and enduring modular system that invites pedestrians to gather and enjoy the vibrant, eclectic life of the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood.

Framed by views of the Mount Royal to the west and the Olympic Stadium to the east, Mont-Royal Avenue is one of Montreal’s most iconic commercial streets. In the summer, it transforms into a pedestrian-only zone, making space for a temporary installation stretching four kilometres.

In its effort to enhance the durability of its pedestrian infrastructure, the Société de Développement de l’Avenue du Mont-Royal commissioned Dikini to design bespoke urban furniture that is both unique and durable. Since the furniture could neither be moved with heavy machinery nor anchored to the pavement, the challenge was to create pieces that, while lightweight and freestanding, also minimize the risk of theft.

The solution is Méandre: a robust, flexible, and easy-to-assemble modular system that enables the creation of expansive, winding installations.

Sinuous

Méandre traces a long, curvilinear gesture that accompanies pedestrians and unifies the visual fabric of avenue du Mont-Royal. Reflecting the sinuous flow of pedestrians, its curves form converging and diverging meeting zones, modulating intimacy and views of the urban landscape.

Monomaterial

Composed of painted metal tubes and plates, Méandre's single-material construction offers great durability. This approach has created a striking monochromatic visual statement while optimizing fabrication, enhancing robustness and minimizing maintenance.

Modular

The system features two types of seating and supports, allowing for a variety of continuous, flowing arrangements. Freestanding by design, the furniture is easy to set up and can be reconfigured effortlessly to suit changing needs. Despite not being anchored, the large size of the configurations helps deter theft and prevents unintended movement.