Around the Canada Pavillion in 1967. Image © Cortomaltais via Wikipedia under license CC-BY-SA-4.0

会“变形”的世博遗产：蒙特利尔的建筑“七十二变”
When the World Came to Montreal: The Urban Legacy of Canada’s Expo 67

由专筑网Yinglin，小R编译

加拿大1967年蒙特利尔世界博览会（Expo 67）被公认为历史上最成功的世界博览会之一，打破了多项记录，并对蒙特利尔的城市景观产生了深远而持久的影响。作为加拿大建国100周年庆典的一部分，此次活动为城市提供了一个在全球舞台上展示其文化和技术成就的机会。仅六个月内，博览会吸引了超过5000万游客，刷新了参观人数记录，其中单日游客最高达56.95万，这是当时世界博览会前所未有的壮举。如今，58年后，2025年大阪世博会即将展示未来的社会，回顾蒙特利尔世博会的遗产，并探索其带来的城市转型显得尤为重要。

尽管最终取得成功，蒙特利尔世博会在早期规划阶段面临相当大的挑战。政治和后勤问题威胁到项目的推进，加拿大的公众支持最初较低。然而，蒙特利尔市长Jean Drapeau 及其团队的坚定承诺确保了项目的实现。资金结构为三方合作，联邦政府出资50%，魁北克省提供37.5%，蒙特利尔市承担剩余的12.5%。仅用四年半的时间建设完成，这比大多数世界博览会的建设周期显著更短，标志着国家的一项令人印象深刻的成就。

Canada's Expo 67 stands as one of the most successful world expos ever held, setting records and leaving an enduring impact on Montreal's urban landscape. As part of Canada's 100 years celebrations, the event provided an opportunity for the city to showcase its cultural and technological achievements on a global platform. With over 50 million visitors in just six months, it shattered attendance records, including an astonishing 569,500 visitors in a single day. An unprecedented feat for a world fair at the time. Now, 58 years later, and with the Osaka Expo 2025 set to showcase how to design the future society for our lives, it is worth revisiting the legacy of Expo 67 and exploring the urban transformations it brought to Montreal.
Despite its eventual success, Expo 67 faced considerable obstacles during its early planning stages. Political and logistical issues threatened to derail the project, and public support within Canada was initially low. However, the commitment of Montreal's mayor, Jean Drapeau, and a team of dedicated organizers ensured its realization. The funding was structured as a three way partnership, with the federal government contributing 50 percent, Québec providing 37.5 percent, and the city of Montreal covering the remaining 12.5 percent. In just four and a half years, a significantly shorter timeline than most world expos, the construction was completed, marking an impressive achievement for the country.


Drapeau and L’Allier at the official opening of the Montréal metro, 1966. Image via Archives de la Ville de Montréal

蒙特利尔世博会的一个特色是其创新的场地，位于圣劳伦斯河上的人工岛屿上。市长Drapeau支持创建Notre Dame岛屿并扩展Sainte-Hélène岛屿，而非选择现有陆地。这片新土地通过新近开通的地铁系统与蒙特利尔市中心相连。尽管地铁的建设在世界博览会前多年便已开始，Expo 67的开幕帮助提升了地铁的受欢迎程度。到1966年底，地铁开通仅2.5个月，乘客已完成3210万次行程，到1967年，这一数字达到3亿次。

岛屿的建设需要大量材料。据蒙特利尔历史学家Bruno Paul Stenson称，关于岛屿由地铁建设挖掘出的土壤建造的都市传说实际上并不真实。事实上，这部分材料仅占10%左右。大部分材料通过疏浚河流和拆除工程而获得，每天有数千辆卡车运输材料。

One of the features of Expo 67 was its innovative site, which was located on artificial islands in the St. Lawrence River. Instead of selecting an existing landmass, Mayor Drapeau supported the creation of Notre Dame Island and the expansion of Sainte-Hélène Island. This new land was connected to downtown Montreal by the recently inaugurated metro system. Despite its construction starting many years before the World Fair, the opening of Expo 67 helped to increase the Metro's popularity. By the end of 1966, when the metro had been open for only 2.5 months, riders had already made 32.1 million trips on the system, reaching 300 million by 1967.
The construction of the islands required a massive amount of material. According to Montreal Historian Bruno Paul Stenson, the urban legend that says the islands were built from excavated soil from the metro construction is actually not true. In fact they only contributed around 10% of the material. The majority of it was sourced by dredging the river and demolishing Green Island and Round Island, with thousands of trucks transporting the materials over Jacques Cartier Bridge every day.


Expo 67 site in 1969. Image via Archives de la Ville de Montréal

该活动还启动了蒙特利尔范围内的广泛基础设施发展。主要道路得到升级或新建，以应对预期的游客激增。此外，一些重大建筑项目作为城市现代化努力的一部分也得以出现。

The event also started extensive infrastructure developments throughout Montreal. Major roads such as the Bonaventure Autoroute, the Décarie Expressway, and the Louis-Hippolyte-Lafontaine Tunnel were upgraded or constructed to accommodate the anticipated influx of visitors. Additionally, significant architectural projects, including Place Bonaventure and the Château Champlain Hotel, emerged as part of the city's modernization efforts.


View of Expo 67 site and Montreal's downtown skyline. Image via Archives de la Ville de Montréal

蒙特利尔世博会的游客有多种交通方式可供选择，以探索广阔的会场。世博快线提供快速交通，而轻轨则提供较慢的单轨列车体验。脚踏车带来更悠闲的探索，船只在场地的运河中前行，增加了沉浸式体验。官方导游也在场协助游客，3D地图提供了展览布局的概览。

Visitors to Expo 67 had various modes of transportation available to navigate the expansive fairgrounds. The Expo Express provided rapid transit, while the Minirail offered a slower monorail experience. Pedicabs allowed for a more leisurely exploration, and boats glided through the site's canals, adding to the immersive experience. Official guides were also present to assist guests, and a 3D map provided an overview of the exhibition's layout.


Map of Expo 67. Image via McGill Archival Collection Catalogue


Aerial view of Notre Dame Island during Expo 67. Image via McGill Archival Collection Catalogue

该活动最标志性的建筑贡献之一是Habitat 67，这是由Moshe Safdie设计的革命性住宅项目。最初作为其硕士论文构思，这一模块化结构旨在通过结合独立住宅的优点与公寓居住的密度，解决城市住房的挑战。Habitat 67位于博览会场地Cité du Havre区域，成为前瞻性建筑的象征，并继续作为蒙特利尔天际线上的重要地标。

One of the most iconic architectural contributions of the event was Habitat 67, a revolutionary housing project designed by Moshe Safdie. Originally conceived as his master's thesis, the modular structure aimed to address the challenges of urban housing by merging the benefits of individual homes with the density of apartment living. Situated on an area of the expo site known as Cité du Havre, Habitat 67 became a symbol of forward-thinking architecture and remains a prominent landmark in Montreal's skyline.


Contemporary view of Habitat 67 in Montreal. Image © Jeangagnon via Wikipedia under license  CC-BY-SA-3.0

1967年10月博览会结束后，该场地继续展览运营，并起名为 “人类与世界”，一直到1984年，其展出不断。例如，为此活动建造的一个标志性结构是Frei Otto的德国馆，他与Rolf Gutbrod合作设计。然而，由于许多建筑并非为长期使用而设计，最终年久失修并被拆除。尽管如此，一些关键结构得以保存，并继续在城市景观中发挥重要作用。

After the exposition concluded in October 1967, the site continued to operate as an exhibition known as "Man and His World", which remained active during the summer months until 1984. For example, one iconic structure built for the occasion was Frei Otto's German Pavilion, which he designed in collaboration with Rolf Gutbrod. However, since many of the buildings were not designed for long-term use, they eventually fell into disrepair and were dismantled. Despite this, several key structures survive and continue to play significant roles in the city's landscape.


View of the German Pavillion in Expo 67. Image © Frei Otto via Archdaily

最知名的遗迹之一是Buckminster Fuller的网格球顶建筑，最初作为美国馆使用。现在改建为蒙特利尔生物圈，作为环境博物馆。Habitat 67则仍然用作功能性住宅综合体，并于2009年被指定为历史纪念碑。此外，前法国和魁北克馆被改建为蒙特利尔赌场。蒙特利尔世博会的原址现已更名为Jean-Drapeau公园，这是一个公共空间，举办包括音乐节和一年一度的Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix等重大活动。

Among the most recognizable remnants is Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome, which originally served as the American Pavilion. Now repurposed as the Montreal Biosphere, it functions as an environmental museum. Habitat 67 remains a functioning residential complex and was designated a historic monument in 2009. Additionally, the former French and Quebec pavilions were transformed into the Casino de Montréal. The original site of Expo 67 has since been rebranded as Parc Jean-Drapeau, a public space that hosts major events, including music festivals and the annual Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.


The Biosphere in Park Jean Drapeau. Image © Moises Carrasco

博览会带来的交通和建筑进步继续塑造蒙特利尔的现代身份，巩固其作为文化与创新中心的地位。今天，它仍是城市历史上的关键时刻。它庆祝了加拿大联邦成立100周年，还展示了其举办世界级活动的能力。五十多年后，其遗产通过建筑、交通网络和文化地标持续影响蒙特利尔的身份。今天，它似乎在提醒着，人们聚集于此共同庆祝人类的成就与进步，今年，2025年大阪世博会创造了另一个类似于蒙特利尔的全球合作机会，展示可能塑造我们生活、连接和建设未来世界的进步。

The transportation and architectural advancements that emerged from the expo continue to shape Montreal's modern identity, reinforcing its place as a center of culture and innovation. Today, it remains a defining moment in the city's history. It not only celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation but also demonstrated its ability to host a world-class event. More than five decades later, its legacy endures in the structures, transportation networks, and cultural landmarks that continue to shape Montreal's identity. Today, it serves as a reminder of a time when the world came together to celebrate human achievement and progress. This year, the Osaka Expo 2025 creates yet another opportunity for global collaboration similar to Montreal, showcasing advancements that may shape the way we live, connect, and build our future world.