Maison de la Littérature

Going Across from Old Quebec to the trendy Saint-Roch neighborhood of Québec City, there is a structure that appears to be a big, stunning church. If you stroll up the steps and peek in the door, you’ll discover that this is not actually a collection yet a church, the Maison de la littérature!

Formerly the Wesley Temple integrated in 1848 for the Methodist area, the church had a second life as the Canadian Institute Hall after being deconsecrated in 1931. As component of the CIH, a public Vieux-Quebec collection, was opened up and the structure served the public for the following 60-plus years. Upon the institute’s closing, the city intended to retain the library for its people while still fulfilling the demands of its literary community. The Maison de la littérature was produced to satisfy those demands.

When walking in, you feel reverence. Perhaps it’s the automatic idea to be quiet in a collection; maybe it’s the magnificent respect for strolling into a holy place. The space is spectacular; it’s clear that the collection exists in the confines of a former church: the big home windows are clear and permit all-natural light into the area, the inside is white, evoking the brand-new and ingenious principle of merging 2 markets, the previous choir loft now holds bookshelves, research study carrels, and office, and the light fixture somehow gives off a spiritual vibe regardless of it being secular. The area is relaxed, considerate, and intimate, despite having an open-concept layout.