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Pierre Gauthier, PhD

  • Associate Professor, Geography, Planning and Environment

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Biography

Dr. Pierre Gauthier joined the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment in 2001. He became an Assistant Professor in 2003 and an Associate Professor in 2008. He holds a B.Arch. from Université de Montréal, a M.Arch. from Université Laval and received his Ph.D. in Urban Planning from McGill University in 2003. His research interests are related to urban morphogenesis - the evolution of urban forms; urban design and physical planning. Specific topics include: the genesis of working-class suburbs in Montréal and Québec City, the history of development and planning practices in Québec, the study of the impact of normative planning theories on urban form, and the current development wave of Large Housing Estates in China.

Research activities

Current research projects

2010 - 2014
Co-investigator. Québec 2020: Vers un projet collectif d'aménagement durable FQRSC Soutien aux équipes de recherche. Principal investigator Dr. Carole Després; Co-investigators: Dr. Manon Boulianne, Dr. Stéphane Roche, Dr. Florent Joerin, Dr. Andrée Fortin, Dr. Geneviève Vachon, Dr. Nik Luka, Dr. Gianpiero Moretti)

2007 - 2012
Co-investigator in Making mega-projects work for communities SSHRC Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) Principal investigator Dr. Lisa Bornstein (McGill). Co-investigators: Dr. Raphaël Fischler, Dr. David Brown (McGill); Dr. Damaris Rose (INRS); Dr. Anne Latendresse (UQAM); Dr. Daniel Pearl (UdM); Dr. Jean Caron (McGill/Douglas hospital).

2007 - 2010
S'investir en ville: genèse de l'habitation multifamiliale et pratiques économiques au faubourg Saint-Jean de Québec au 19ième siècle. SSHRC Standard Research Grants Program

2008 - 2009
Co-publisher Publication d’un ouvrage collectif sur l’état de la recherche en morphologie urbaine au Québec. Financial support from Réseau VRM. Co-publishers Dr. Geneviève Vachon and Dr. GianPiero Moretti (Université Laval).

Research reports

BRISSET, P. and P. GAUTHIER (2010). Turcot 375: Turcot, transport et integration urbaine, pour la suite des choses. A counter-proposal to the Turcot Interchange Reconstruction Project. Presentation, Digital 3-D model and presentation. Research-Action project, SSHRC (CURA) Making mega-projects work for communities.

HAMMAD, A and P. GAUTHIER (2010). Participatory Community and Transportation Planning Using Virtual Reality. Final Report. Submitted to Infrastructure Canada. Program Knowledge-building, Outreach and Awareness (KOA) Round 3.

GAUTHIER, P. (2009). Le complexe Turcot et la question de l’intégration urbaine. Mémoire présenté à la Commission chargée de l’examen du Projet de reconstruction du complexe Turcot à Montréal, Montréal-Ouest et Westmount. Département de géographie, urbanisme et environnement. Université Concordia. 16 June 2009. Report 26 p., Visual presentation 43 p.

LAROCHELLE, Pierre; GAUTHIER, Pierre (2003) Les voies d’accès à la Capitale Nationale du Québec et la qualité de la forme urbaine. Étude réalisée dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche multiuniversitaire sur le Cadrage des entrées de la Capitale Nationale du Québec mené par la Chaire en environnement et en paysage de l’Université de Montréal. Étude réalisée pour le ministère des Transports du Québec et la Commission de la Capitale Nationale du Québec.

GAUTHIER, Pierre (2002) Southern Décarie Design Brief. The Advanced Urban Laboratory. Urban Studies Programme. Concordia University, Pierre Gauthier Editor.

_____________ (2002) L’accès à la Montagne et la question des barrières naturelles et anthropiques : une analyse préliminaire. Rapport et Carte. Étude réalisée pour la Commission des biens culturels du Québec. Programme d’études urbaines. Université Concordia.

Graduate Students Supervised

PhD

2005 - 2008
Emma Chow, Candidate, Masters of Engineering. Co-supervisor with Dr. Amin Hammad. Topic: the Use of Virtual Reality to Enhance Participatory Planning.

Master

2010 - present
Emma Chow, Candidate, Masters of Engineering. Co-supervisor with Dr. Amin Hammad. Topic: the Use of Virtual Reality to Enhance Participatory Planning.

Ye Li, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies.

Topic: The Evolution of Residential Architecture in 19th Century Guangzhou
Golsa Kheirmoghadam, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Emerging Residential Patterns in Tehran.

2009 - present
Julie Villain, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Topic: On Some Spatial Determinants of Retail Location.

Qiu Feng, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Topic: Linong Housing in Old-Shanghai.

Matthew Shuster, (SSHRC recipient) Candidate M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Topic: High Functioning Autism and the Urban Built Environment.

2008 - present
Syeda Nargis, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Topic: Virtual Reality and Public Participation in Urban Planning .

Yun Fang, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Topic: Emerging Commercial Landscapes in Nanjing.

2007 - present
Edith Tam, Candidate (SSHRC recipient, BNnQ recipient), M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Topic: Mega-projects and the quality of urban form.

Kent MacDougall, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Topic: Urban infrastructures and the quality of urban form.

2006 - present
Cedric Capacchione, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Thesis Title: Building Culture: Assessing the Experience of Italian Immigrant Acculturation in Montreal Through the Built Environment.

Nadia Sbaihi, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Thesis Title: Emerging Landscapes of Consumption in China: Independent Retail and Urban Transformations in Post-Reform Beijing.

Kun Zhai, Candidate, M.Sc. Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Supervisor. Topic: Emerging Chinese Residential Landscapes: Large Housing Estates in Tianjin.

2005 - 2008
Desmond Bliek, Candidate (SSHRC recipient), MPPPA, Geography option. Supervisor. Thesis title: Reweaving Urban Fabrics: Urbanisation, Industrialisation and Regeneration in?Southwest Montréal (D. Bliek successfully defended his thesis December 13, 2007).

Honours theses supervised

2006 - 2007
Matthew Shuster BA Hon. Urban Planning. Thesis title: Uncovering the missing link - A rediscovery of the 1944 Montréal plan.

2004 - 2005
Eliz Demirciyan: General principles that prevail at the conversion of religious buildings in Quebec.
Desmond Bliek: Understanding the Lachine canal from a morphological perspective.
David Lewis: A morphological analysis of Montreal’s local commercial streets.

2003 - 2004
Jason Burke: The Symbolic Construction of National Identity in the Manipulation of Urban Space: Bill 101’s Impact on the Façade of Montreal.
Jelena Nedeljkovic - Decarie Interchange: The Evolution of Urban Form.

2002 - 2003
Jodi Ostrzega (co-supervisor with Pr. Norma Rantisi): The Language of Architecture: A Reading of the Multimedia City.

Selected publications

GAUTHIER, P., J. JAEGER and J. PRINCE. (2009) (eds.) Montréal at the crossroads : superhighways, Turcot and the environment. Montreal: Black Rose Books.

GAUTHIER, P. (2009) "Un échangeur dans ma cour : la reconstruction de l'échangeur Turcot et la question de l'intégration urbaine" in Montréal at the crossroads : superhighways, Turcot and the environment, edited by Gauthier, P., J. Jaeger and J. Prince. Montreal: Black Rose Books, 91-106

BLIEK, D. and P. GAUTHIER. (2007). “Mobilising Urban Heritage to Counter the Commodification of Brownfield Landscapes: Lessons from Montréal’s Lachine Canal” Canadian Planning and Policy - Aménagement et politique au Canada. 16(1) Supplement 2007, 1-20.

GAUTHIER, P. (In Press). “Québec, a perennial capital city in the New World.” In: J. Rogozinski (Ed.) The City and Urban Life. Armonk (NY): M.E. Sharpe.

GAUTHIER, Pierre and J. GILLILAND (2006) “Mapping urban morphology: A classification scheme for interpreting the study of urban form.” Urban Morphology (2006) 10(1), 41-50

GILLILAND, J. and P. GAUTHIER (2006) “The study of urban form in Canada.” Urban Morphology (2006) 10(1), 51-66

BLIEK, D. and P. GAUTHIER (Forthcoming) “Understanding the Built Form of Industrialization along the Lachine Canal.” Urban History Review.

GAUTHIER, Pierre (2005). “Conceptualizing the Social Construction of Urban and Architectural Forms Through the Typological Process.” Urban Morphology 9(2), 83-93.

GAUTHIER, Pierre (2000). “Faubourg Saint-Sauveur de Québec. Le temps retrouvé de l’architecture.” Continuité, number 86, fall 2000, p. 35-39.

_____________ (1999). "Conceptualizing the Role of Agents in the Typological Process: A Theoretical Exploration." In: Corona and Maffei Eds, Transformations of Urban Form. From Interpretations to Methodologies in Practice. ISUF 1999, Sixth International Seminar on Urban Form. Università degli studi di Firenze. Alinea Editrice p. T 9-12.

Participation activities

Paper presentations

GAUTHIER, P. (2010). De l’étonnante persistance du vernaculaire (à l’ère de la globalisation)” Institut national de la recherche scientifique. Symposium VRM des études urbaines. 1re edition. Montréal 11 June 2010.

ZHANG, T ; P. GAUTHIER and T. Yamamura (2009) “Urban Morphology, Heritage Preservation and the Control of Transformations: A Case Study in the World Heritage City of Lijiang.” Sixteenth International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF), Guangzhou, China, 5 September 2009.

AUTHIER, P. (2008). “Genèse de l’habitation multifamiliale et pratiques économiques au faubourg Saint-Jean de Québec au 19ième siècle.” 76 ième Congrès de l’Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS). Québec City 9 May 2008.

GAUTHIER. P. (2008). “The City Invested: Building and Dwelling Practices and the Commodification of Real Estate in 19th century Québec City.” Paper proposal submitted to the Association of American Geographers 2008 Annual Meeting. Boston (MA) 17 April 2008.

TAM, E. and P. GAUTHIER. (2008). “Disputed Post-Industrial Landscapes: Mapping built forms and development practices in Montreal’s Saint-Henri.” Paper proposal submitted to the Association of American Geographers 2008 Annual Meeting. Boston (MA) 17 April 2008.

SBAIHI, N. and P. GAUTHIER. (2007). “Emerging Landscapes of Consumption in China: Independent Retail, Urban Forms and Urban Life in Post-Reform Beijing.” Conference Urban Land and Housing in China. Hong Kong Baptist University, 14 December 2007. (My student N. Sbaihi did the presentation).

BLIEK, D. and P. GAUTHIER. (2007). Landscape Mediating Economy: Morphological interpretations of post-industrial transformation in Montréal, Canada. Association of American Geographers 2007 Annual Meeting. San Francisco, 21 April 2007. (My student D. Bliek did the presentation).

GAUTHIER, P. and D. ?BLIEK. (2006). A tale of an industrial landscape in the making: The intriguing dialectics of the industrial and domestic spatial orders along the Lachine Canal in Montréal. Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning 47th Annual Conference (ACSP 2006). Forth Worth (TX). November 12, 2006.

GAUTHIER, P. (Forthcoming). Le système de l’architecture résidentielle des faubourgs de Québec, 1750-1930. Conférence de l’association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences (ACFAS).

GAUTHIER, Pierre (2005). The restructuring of the Chinese city and the quality of the urban form: emerging spatial models in Tianjin. Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning 46th Annual Conference (ACSP 2005). Kansas City, MO. October 29, 2005.

GAUTHIER, Pierre (2004). The Urban Tissue as a Cultural Form: Morphogenesis, dwelling practices, building practices and representations of Quebec City’s first suburbs. Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning 45th Annual Conference (ACSP 2004). Portland, OR. October 23, 2004.

_____________ (2004) Learning from Architectural Heritage.
Understanding the Past, Designing the Future. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), 2004 Conference. Québec City. 18 June 2004.

_____________ (2001). Urban Tissue in the Making: The Dialectic of Planning Practices, Everyday Practices and Structural Resilience as Exemplified in Quebec City. International Seminar on Urban Form. ISUF 2001. Cincinnati, OH. September 8, 2001.

_____________ (1999). Conceptualizing the Role of Agents in the Typological Process: A Theoretical Exploration. Sixth International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF). Florence, Italy. July 24, 1999.

_____________ (1998). La notion de patrimoine revue à l'aune des processus de structuration de l'environnement bâti : l'exemple d'un tissu faubourien de Québec. ACFAS Conference (Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences). Quebec City. May 13 1998.

_____________ (1997). From Monument to Humanized Habitat: On Some Theoretical and Methodological Consequences of the Expansion of the Notion of Heritage. “Workshop on Heritage Conservation & Tourism.” Department of Surveying and Land Information, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Indies. St Augustine. Trinidad and Tobago. December 4, 1997.

_____________ (1997). Quebec's Experience in Heritage Conservation 1922-1997 : Evolution of the Legal and Administrative Framework. “Workshop on Heritage Conservation & Tourism.” December 3, 1997.

_____________ (1997). Morphogenèse et syntaxe spatiale des tissus résidentiels du quartier Saint-Sauveur de Québec. ACFAS Conference (Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences). Trois-Rivières. Quebec. May 15, 1997.

Media interviews and features

2010

(2010, 23 April) RDI en direct, RDI. [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.] Journalist: Michel Viens.

(2010, 23 April) Mongrain, TVA, Montréal. [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.] Journalist: Jean-Luc Mongrain.

(2010, 22 April) Le téléjournal, Radio-Canada [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.] Journalist: Davide Gentile.

(2010, 22 April) LCN l'après-midi, LCN [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.] Journalist: Veronyque Tremblay.
Riga, Andy (2010, 22 April) "City's Turcot proposal 'a new vision' Only two lanes; Plan strikes a chord with critics." [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.]

(2010, 21 April) Bulletin de nouvelle, Argent [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.] Journalist: Sophie Lemieux.
Bourque, Olivier (2010, 21 April) "Guerre en vue à l'échangeur Turcot." Argent, Montréal. [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.]

(2010, 21 April) Mongrain, TVA, Montréal. [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.] Journalist: Jean-Luc Mongrain.

(2010, 21 April) LCN Maintenant, Bulletin de nouvelle, LCN [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange project.] Journalist: Caroline Lacroix.
Guilbeault, Steven (2010, 29 March) "Turcot 375: la solution verte" Métro, Montréal.

Block, Niko (2010, 27 March) "Activists fight for smaller Turcot" McGill Daily. Montréal.

Bisson, Bruno (2010, 26 March) "échangeur Turcot: un projet réduit est proposé" La Presse, Montréal.

Riga, Andy (2010, 26 March) "A new vision for the Turcot Interchange. Alternative plan has more money going to public transit" The Gazette, Montréal.

Corriveau, Jeanne (2010, 26 March) "Les écologistes proposent de réduire la capacité routière du futur complexe Turcot" Le Devoir, Montréal.

Séguin, Marilou (2010, 26 March) ""Turcot 375" suggère un échangeur plus vert à échelle humaine" Rue Frontenac, Montréal.

Guthrie, Jennifer (2010, 26 March) "Pour un projet Turcot réduit et plus humain" Métro, Montréal.

Fortin, Jean-Louis (2010, 26 March) "Turcot: une alternative verte pour le 375e" 24H, Montréal.

(2010, 25 March) Interview, CBC News: Montreal at 6:00 [Interviewed on Turcot 375]. Journalist: Amanda Pfeffer.

(2010, 25 March) Interview, CTV Montreal [Interviewed on Turcot 375]. Journalist:

(2010, 25 March) Interview, Radio-Canada, Le téléjournal Montréal. [Interviewed on Turcot 375]. Journalist: David Gentile.

2009

Cooper, Ross (2009, October 15) "Where the rubber hits the road. Concordia Journal, Montreal, Vol. 5, No 4, p.7. [Interviewed on the Turcot Interchange reconstruction].

Aubin, Henry (2009, 5 August) "Climate-change fight starts with Turcot. Book examines transit alternatives in rebuilding massive interchange." The Gazette. Montreal.

(2009, 28 June) Interview, CBC Radio One, All in a Weekend [Interviewed on Turcot Interchange reconstruction]. Journalist: Dave Bronstetter.

Corriveau, Jeanne (2009, June 16) "Trop de béton pour l'auto?" Le Devoir, Montréal [Quoted on the Turcot Interchange reconstruction] pp. A-1 and A-8.

Riga, Andy (2009, June 16) "Alternate Turcot vision unveiled" The Gazette, Montréal [Quoted on the Turcot Interchange reconstruction] p. A-6.

Guthri, Jennifer (2009, June 15) "Front commun pour d'avantage de transport collectif sur l'échangeur Turcot." Métro Montréal.

(2009, 13 May) Interview, CBC Television News Montreal [Interviewed on the BAPE hearings of the Turcot Interchange].

Bisson, Bruno (2009, 13 May) "échangeur Turcot: l'information disponible n'est pas Claire," La Presse, Montréal. [Interviewed on the BAPE hearings on the Turcot Interchange].

(2009, 24 March) Interview, CBC Radio One, Home Run [Interviewed on Turcot Interchange reconstruction]. Journalist: Bernard St-Laurent.

(2009, 24 March) "La Table de travail Turcot rejette l'idée d'autoroutes en remblais." Montréal express.

Heffez, Alanah (2009, 18 March) "Independent Experts Question Turcot Plans" Spacing Montréal. Web Magazine [Interviewed on Turcot Interchange reconstruction].

(2009, 18 March) Interview, CBC Radio One, Radio Noon [Interviewed on Turcot Interchange reconstruction]. Journalist: Sue Smith.

2008

Murphy, Jessica (2008, 21 August) “Turcot tensions” The Métropolitain, Montréal. [Interviewed on the Turcot interchange and Yards redevelopment].

Black, Barbara (2008, 3 April) “ClassAction Laboratory produces ideas to revitalize St. Henri” Concordia Journal, Montreal, Vol. 3, No 13 [Interviewed on students’ work in the Advanced Urban Laboratory].

(2008, 21 February) Interview, CBC Radio, Daybreak [Interviewed on Griffintown’s redevelopment]. Journalist: Shawn Apel.(2008, 10 January)

Interview, CBC Radio, Daybreak [Interviewed on Griffintown’s redevelopment]. Journalist: Emily Bodenberg.

2007

2007Riga, Andy (2007, 6 October) “The outer limits of Downtown” The Gazette. Montréal. [Interviewed on recent planning and commercial trends on Ste. Catherine Street West].
 
Rodriguez, Juan (2007, 31 March) “It’s a small town after all” The Gazette. Montréal. [Interviewed on Montréal’s cosmopolitan character in relation to urban planning].

2006

(2006, December 5) Interview, TV5, Tu m’étonnes [Interviewed on “life style” commercial developments]. Journalist: Marie-Louise Arsenault.

Adamczyk, Kinia (2006, November 9) “Students redesign the Peel Basin with foam-core and imagination” Concordia Journal, Montreal, Vol. 2, No 5 [Interviewed on students’ participation to a competition held by the Canadian Center for Architecture].

Scott, Marian (2006, September 16) “Street smarts” The Gazette. Montréal. [Interviewed on Montréal’s commercial streets].

Losier, Marc (2006, 4 May) “Southeast Montreal revived” Concordia Journal, Montreal, Vol. 1, No 13 [Interviewed on students’ work].

2005

2005 Losier, Marc (2005, 21 April) “Tramline in the Point proposed by students.” Concordia’s Thursday Report, Montreal, Vol. 29, No 14 [Interviewed on students’ planning proposals for Pointe-Saint-Charles].

DeWolf, Christopher (2005, 26 January) “Struggling to Face Its Piers: Will Montreal Follow Toronto’s Example in Revitalizing Its Beleaguered Waterfront?” Maisonneuve Web Magazine [Interviewed on Montreal’s Waterfront redevelopment].

2004

2004 (2004, 6 September) Interview, Global Television, News [Interviewed on Griffintown’s redevelopment]. Journalist: Ms. Christine Zaklama.

DeWolf, Christopher (2004, 18 July) “Griffintown will rise again. A university project has come up with bold ideas for the area.” The Gazette. Montreal, Sunday, July 18, 2004.

Collette, Olivia (2004, 8 May) “The Griff gets a makeover.” Place Publique, Montreal, Vol. XI, No 9 [Article featuring the work of the Advanced Urban Laboratory].

(2004, 3 May) Interview, CBC Television, Canada Now: Montreal. [Interviewed on Montreal’s Waterfront development]. Journalist: Ms. Katz

(2004, 8 April) “Students re-imagine Griffintown.” Concordia’s Thursday Report, Montreal, Vol. 28, No 13.

Gillich, Kevin (2004, 30 March) “The greening of Mont-Royal. Panelists debate the benefits of pedestrianization.” The Link, Montreal, Vol. 24, Issue 28.

Kutlu, Nadielle (2004, 31 January) “Un nouveau quartier au centre-ville de Montréal.” Place Publique, Montreal, Vol. XI, No 2. [Interviewed on Quartier Concordia Competition].

Kuin, Frank (2004, 29 January) “Pierre Gauthier is molding the future of Montreal.” Concordia’s Thursday Report, Montreal, Vol. 28, No 9.

Other Professional Contributions

2010 - present
Substitute Member, City of Montreal Heritage Council

2008 - present
Member of the Board, Regroupement économique et social du Sud-Ouest (RESO) (a Community economic development corporation for Montréal's South West).
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