National Mountain Center in Canada by Saucier+Perrotte

The Montreal architectural firm Saucier + Perrotte will design a mountain center building in Canmore, located at the entrance to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, together with Marc Boutin. A large group of mountain enthusiasts advocated for the establishment of a National Mountain Center in 2002 to “better understand and experience the mountains.” In 2006, the mountain association commissioned the aforementioned architects. Their design, measuring 5,100 m², will cost CAD 35 million. Upon completion in 2009, the mountain center will become one of the most important tourist attractions in western Canada. Its mission will be to educate visitors about responsibility and inform them about the history, nature, and sports practiced in the Canadian mountains. A notable element of the building's spatial program is a giant climbing wall and extensive exhibition areas. Additionally, there will be a meeting room, shops, and multimedia and presentation rooms.
The architects derived the form of the building from geological layers. Just as individual layers of rock overlap, so do the individual spaces stack upon each other. While traversing the center, one experiences similar feelings to those on a mountain hike. The views from the building are carefully staged. The architecture of the house frames the views of the surrounding landscape, which itself becomes an exhibition centerpiece. Link>