The Tree House

The Tree House, set in the northeast corner of the Montréal Botanical Garden, opened its doors in July 1996.

The goal of the Tree House is to highlight the importance of trees and forests in our lives and showcase the Arboretum's collections.

The Tree House is located on Rosemont Boulevard, between 28^th and 29^th Avenue, east of Pie-IX Boulevard.

Opening Hours:
February 1 to May 14, 2012, from Tuesday to Sunday* from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
May 15 to October 31, 2012, everyday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(*open on Mondays, February 27, March 5 and April 9, 2012)

Mission

The Tree House introduces visitors to the scientific, ecological, economic, artistic and cultural dimensions of trees, in both cities and forests.

Through its outreach activities it makes people aware of the roles played by trees in different aspects of our lives, and in the ecological balance of many ecosystems.

Activities

The Tree House is a veritable gold mine of information on trees and forests.

The permanent exhibition, At the Heart of the Tree, and the current temporary exhibition, are a great introduction to the subject.

Temporary Exhibition :
Paper Work, from February 1 to October 31, 2011

In warm weather, you can discover a well-kept secret at the Tree House: an extensive collection of miniaturized trees on display in the courtyard of North American bonsai.

Of course there are lots of different activities for the general public and school groups.

To round out your visit, take a stroll around the Tree House pond and explore the impressive collections of trees in the Arboretum.

Architecture

The architectural design is based on an interpretation of the tree shape symbolizing a pillar.

In keeping with the theme of the site, wood in different forms and worked in different ways was used as the basic material.

Local wood, from species found in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada, has pride of place.

White pine, balsam fir, white spruce, sugar maple, yellow birch and Douglas fir were all used in the structure or finish. The supporting beams, large pieces of laminated white spruce, were made especially for the Tree House.

The arrangement of space and volumes is inspired by three major shapes from the classic garden repertory, i.e. the alley, path and grotto.

The alley
The laminated wood columns supporting the roof of the Tree House represent the royal alley, lined with straight rows of trees. The alley continues outdoors, onto an observation deck.

The path
The permanent exhibition room is bathed in natural light and looks out onto the Arboretum, its sinuous shape evoking a romantic path on the edge of the forest.

The grotto
The temporary exhibition room, more shadowy and without any windows, is like a mysterious cavern full of treasures waiting to be discovered.

The description of the architecture of the Tree House was inspired by an article by Simon Péloquin, published in Quatre-Temps (Vol. 21, No. 2, summer 1997).