A rich history

The Château Dufresne has changed function several times over the course of its history. Originally a private residence, it became a college in 1948, before being purchased by the City of Montreal in 1957. The building then became the first Musée national d'art contemporain, before being classified as a historic monument in 1976.

These changes of ownership and role greatly altered the building's interior. And despite the restorations carried out after 1976, some of these alterations can still be seen today. The château team wanted to show visitors these changes in a playful way, without impacting on the décor.

Discovery through play

Château Dufresne came up with the idea of creating a rally for families. Discreet QR codes have been placed in the windows of the château.

Visitors scan them and listen to audio. Flair and Luminaire, the personifications of the château's lighting, invite them to look around and find traces of a displaced fountain, a peeling in a painting, which are the traces of alterations made over the years.

In the audio, a question is put to them, and they can find the answer behind a simple button. A new audio clip tells them more about what they've just discovered, accompanied by photos.