Canadian Pavilion Posted on August 15th
The Canadian Pavilion explores the juxtaposition of the familiar with the foreign, a curious union implied by the very existence of a Canadian Biennale. Viewed from the river, the building recalls the local vernacular; at oblique angles, it reveals itself to be angular and ambitious, as well.
Programme is organized to make the project as approachable as possible. The street is fronted by the foyer and shop, and the subtle deflection of the entrance plaza invites passers-by. At the riverside walk, generous ramps ascend walls of vegetation, culminating in a terrace and restaurant with views overlooking the river; a visible, friendly, and inviting
destination is provided for pedestrians and vehicles alike. This establishes the project as an extension of the park system; the raised terrace, planted with small trees and furnished with cafe tables, extends the park sectionally, while the transparency at grade extends the park through the building along Grand Avenue.
The main gallery volume is cladded in a prefabricated plywood rainscreen, contrasting the planted administrative plinth. In a play on scale, the weathering of a single piece of wood is magnified cover the entire gallery volume. Skylights and windows, being larger or smaller or more angular than expected, continue the reinterpretation of building scale. The play on scale, combined with the diagonal grid of the plywood panels and their gradient finish, dissolves the formal rigidity of the pavilion; it becomes cloud-like, as if its edges are blurred, and floats effortlessly on glass and planted walls.
Ultimately, the intention is for the pavilion to strike a balance between romantic gestures and domestic sensibility in order to resonate with the inspirations of a burgeoning cultural city.
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