For forty years, Dinu Bumbaru has done everything to make Montreal’s heritage clear. Although his background is partly Romanian and he was born in Vancouver, in Montreal he made his home. Michel Lacombe met with the policy director of Héritage Montréal.
“I am not a member of the Order of Architects [du Québec], he says. But I think I’m doing my part for architecture, ”said this bachelor of architecture from the University of Montreal.
In fact, since 1982, Dinu Bumbaru has worked for Héritage Montréal, an organization founded by architect and patron Phyllis Lambert. It is also part of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). Founded in 1965, this organization is interested in urban, architectural and landscape heritage. “The world’s population is increasingly urban,” Dinu Bumbaru said. How do we take the question of heritage to metropolises? “
Above all, Dinu Bumbaru laments the lack of debate and passion in our societies for heritage. “It’s estimated that between 1960 and 2000, there were about 55,000 demolitions in Montreal alone. So, it’s a pretty large number,” said Héritage Montréal’s policy director.
Ray of hope, he believes we have more questions today. Heritage regulations were modernized when Jean Doré came to power in 1986, and the adoption of an urban plan in 1992 improved the situation.
Dinu Bumbaru also mentioned that a “certain standardization of territories” is currently taking place. “What are the conditions to ensure social diversity in a neighborhood? […] We should think about it together, ”said the man who was worried at the same time about the population increase.
However, he raised worthy examples of heritage protection, but he regrets that “we have lost the art of walking in Montreal” and pleads for a “walking city with well-placed banks, fountain for seasonal drinking water and trees. which provides shade to prevent it from becoming too hot “.
“The challenge of heritage is not in the past, but in the future”, firmly believes Dinu Bumbaru.
Source: Radio-Canada