bota bota spa by sid lee architecture. montreal, canada.
the 57 year old ferryboat was transformed into a floating scandinavian spa by sid lee architects in the heart of montreal's old port. the ferryboat used to link two cities in quebec in the 1950s - built in 1951& measuring 170 feet and 600 tons, the arthur cardin plied the waters between the two cities for ten years. at expo 67 in montreal it enjoyed a second life as a floating art center; renamed l'escale, it included a theater, foyers spread out along three floors, bars & a restaurant on the the bridges, cabins for staff & dressing rooms for actors. l'escale became the world's first floating art center, travelling around quebec. in 2008 sid lee architects was commissioned for the architectural design for bota bota - the third incarnation for the former ferry. now anchored in montreal's old port after two years of construction work, the spa plunges visitors in a multisensory world inspired by the aquatic environment & the rich history of the ship & her surroundings.