May 28, 2008

NIC LEHOUX

The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects with lead design architect Bruce Haden, MRAIC, earned a Governor General’s Medal for Architecture. The centre features indoor and outdoor exhibits that honour the cultural history of the Osoyoos Indian Band.

British Columbia projects among winners of Governor General’s Medals in Architecture

Bradley Fehr

editor

A handful of British Columbia projects were recipients of the recently announced Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.

The awards are designed to recognize outstanding achievement in recently built projects by Canadian architects.

They are administered jointly by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts.

“It is very encouraging to note that our educational, cultural and community institutions have embraced inspirational contemporary Canadian architecture,” said Kiyoshi Matsuzaki, RAIC president.

“The award-winning projects are indeed world-class and demonstrate that, as architects, we Canadians can create buildings that are second to none.”

The winning British Columbia projects are:

Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects with lead design architect Bruce Haden, MRAIC.

It is described as a dramatic and sustainable response to its unique context – the Canadian desert south of the Okanagan Valley in Osoyoos, British Columbia. The building features indoor and outdoor exhibits that honour the cultural history of the Osoyoos Indian Band and are designed to be an extension of the remarkable site.

The project’s approach towards sustainable design includes features such as the largest rammed earth wall in North America, the use of blue-stain pine, a habitable green roof, in-slab radiant cooling and heating, careful water-use management and research space for the endangered rattlesnake.

ROAR_one is a development of stacked homes in Vancouver’s Point Grey. The building’s front face of glass and slotted patios is partially obscured by 15-foot-high rectangles of aluminum mesh.

ROAR_one in Vancouver by Land Wilson Practice in Architecture Culture Inc., Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects and Associated Architects with lead design architect Oliver Lang, MRAIC.

The project is situated in Vancouver in the context of an emerging metropolis on the Pacific Rim. The idea behind the ROAR_one project was to create a new way to look at dense urban living and live-work culture.

It is described as a project positioned through design innovation with regards to livability, flexibility, choice, sustainability, compactness and strategic spatial qualities.

The Gleneagles Community Centre has a gymnasium, multipurpose room, a fitness center, and childcare area. When completed in 2003, it was the first public building in North America to incorporate a thermo-active radiant heating and cooling system.

The Gleneagles Community Centre (West Vancouver) by Patkau Architects with lead design architects John Patkau, FRAIC and Patricia Patkau, FRAIC.

The community centre is located on a small, gently sloping site in West Vancouver and the program is organized on three levels to limit the building footprint. The lower two levels can each be accessible, at grade, on opposite sides of the building.

The lower level, with gymnasium, multipurpose room, arts room and outdoor specialty area, opens to covered outdoor terraces and courtyard spaces adjacent to a public golf course.

The only other development in Western Canada to earn a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture was the Winnipeg Centennial Library designed by Patkau/LM Architectural Group with lead design architects John Patkau, FRAIC and Patricia Patkau, FRAIC

The library is a three-storey building that, along with a public park, occupies a city block. Expanding the library into the park would have destroyed green space so most of the added space is contained in a new fourth floor.

It is said that highly visible, interactive terraces generate a new identity for the library.

“The outstanding buildings that are being honoured with this year’s Governor General’s medals are a testament to the creativity, ingenuity and overall excellence in Canadian architects..." said Simon Brault, vice chair for the Canada Council for the Arts.

The medal recipients were selected by jury of the distinguished architects and will be presented October 16, 2008 at Rideau Hall by Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean.

The complete list of winners includes:

• Canada’s National Ballet School Project Grand Jêté (Toronto)

• Communication, Culture and Technology Building, University of Toronto (Mississauga)

• Gleneagles Community Centre (West Vancouver)

• House at 4a Wychwood Park (Toronto)

• Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (India)

• New Canadian War Museum (Ottawa)

• Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre (Osoyoos)

• ROAR_one (Vancouver)

• Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church (Scarborough)

• Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto

• Trent University Chemical Sciences Building (Peterborough)

• Winnipeg Centennial Library Addition

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