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227 competitions documented	466 competitions listed
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MODELS + VIDEOS

PUBLICATIONS + OPEN ACCESS

Competitor

RAW Architects, in association with Gareth Hoskins Architects

Fort York Visitor Centre / Centre d'accueil de Fort York

Axonometric Drawing

exhibit concept

Axonometric Drawing

structure and forces

Axonometric Drawing

lighting concept

Axonometric Drawing

HVCA and services

Section

A-A'

Section

B-B'

Section

C-C'

Section

D-D'

Section

wall detail

Elevation

north

Elevation

south

Elevation

east

Elevation

west

Presentation Panel

no.1 - context and analysis

Presentation Panel

no.2 - site ans access

Presentation Panel

no.3 - concept and massing

Presentation Panel

no.4 - organization

Presentation Panel

no.5 - character

Presentation Panel

no.6 - the new visitor centre

Diagram

layers of history / site strategy / activity

Diagram

interpretative journeys / access and visibility

Diagram

intervention

Conceptual Sketch

conceptual

Photograph of Model

massing / model in plexiglass and matte board

Photograph of Model

model in wood, plexiglass and matte board

Schema

spatial relations

Schema

spatial relations

Perspective

from the historical fort

Perspective

experience of the wetlands from Fort York boulevard

Perspective

approach from Fort York boulevard

Perspective

cafe at dusk

Perspective

the new visitor centre in context from the rooftop

Perspective

down main exhibition hall

Plan

contexte

Plan

site

Plan

Fort York boulevard / lower level

Plan

garrison common / upper level

Plan

accessible green roof

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE COMPETITOR

Doc. level

75%

Description

The Fort York National Historic Site encompasses eighteen hectares adjoining the Fort and takes in nearby Victoria Square. These grounds encompass the birthplace of the City, some remnants of the late 18th century landscape, the Garrison Common including part of the 1813 battlefield, two military cemeteries, and vast archaeological resources. It is Canada's largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings and houses a significant collection of artefacts.

The project for a new visitor centre and associated landscape is an opportunity to provide expanded and inclusive interpretive elements which will make the history of the site come alive for all visitors. It is also an opportunity to con¬nect the grounds to the surrounding neighborhood and to the broader open space network of the city.

A landscaped ramp reaches from the corner of Fleet Street and Fort York Boulevard up to the Fort York common. Creating an arrival plaza to collect & organize visitors, an introductory interpretation is provided and threshold created to traverse the change in level across the Gardiner and allow & encourage access to the wider site.

The building is composed of a series of angled planes that peel out of the landscape of the park and connect beneath the Gardiner to create a new public arrival space addressing the streets and community developing around the site.

The first of these angled planes forms a hard landscaped pathway passing from Fleet Street, beneath the portal of the Gardiner to a point on the southern edge of the park that bisects the original Garrison Road - a place where visitors can either step out into the landscape of the park or enter the Centre to embark on an interpretive journey towards the Fort. The presence of the new Centre is signaled by a glowing glass 'light box' containing the changing feature exhibition space that nestles against the angled form of the building and looks back out towards the neighborhood, providing a visual link to the current shoreline whilst illuminating the new arrival space.

Having passed beneath the Gardiner, or arrived from one of the diverse entry points of the park, visitors enter into the main public spaces of the Centre, enclosed beneath two further angled planes whose landscaped surfaces appear to rise out of the parkland. These angled roof planes contain two groups of spaces set either side of a central route aligned along the line of the Garrison Road towards the western entrance of the Fort. This central route creates a clear sense of direction and orientation for visitors, so that whilst moving through the various spaces within the Centre, they are always returning back to this axis and the view, focused towards the Fort.

The building uses the slope of the embankment on which it is situated to its advantage. The lower level is dedicated to mechanical plant, loading service and staff functions. Intermittently used spaces are tucked into the slope whilst offices and meeting rooms access southern light overlooking a series of wetlands that provide a memory of the site's former shoreline location whilst remediating and healing the rainwater runoff from the Gardiner Expressway above.

The key interpretive spaces, with low day-lighting requirements are arrayed along the street side of the central circulation spine, creating a buffer zone to the Gardiner. The spaces step out as the visitor progresses towards the fort to create a clear interpretive route whilst allowing a choice of multiple pathways for added interpretation within the building if so desired.

Ancillary functions such as the cafe and event space which benefit from a connection with the park are contained within a glazed pavilion on the Garrison Common of the central circulation spine. The cafe is located near the entrance to enable it to serve both visitors, local residents and passing pedestrian and bicycle traffic whilst the event space is able to service outdoor events held on Garrison Common.

A large 'shop window' is provided to the Changing Feature Exhibition space to provide visitors with a view of the immediate neighborhood and beyond to the current lake shore - re-establishing a connection between the fort and the lake.

The new visitor centre as a series of planes will extend the common vertically and provide a modest backdrop to the battlefield and concurrently shield the park from the Gardiner providing a new green edge. The materials used in the new centre will take cues from the existing Fort and use natural stone, wood and unfinished metal elements. The interior will from a warm core from which expansive views of the park and fort are available.

The proposal supports the overall desire to present an 'authentic history' by allowing ancillary functions to be removed from the Fort, enhancing the interpretive opportunities within the historic fabric. The sitting of the built element strengthens the visitor's connection with the reclaimed Garrison Common and allows an exploration of the key historical events that took place outside the fort.

A number of aspects of this proposal will help to position the Fort York National Historical Site as a unique attraction to residents and tourists alike. The distinctive architecture will capture visitors' imagination and provide a strong visual identity to the site. The Changing Features Exhibitions and the well located cafe enable continuous engagement with local residents while the distinctive rooftop meeting point provides a unique space quite unlike any other in the city.

(From competitor's text)

Jury Report

The Jury liked several aspects of this scheme. The provision of a north/south link connecting Fort York Boulevard to the Fort York Common was considered to be a positive feature. The Jury was intrigued in a building design which seemed almost as much ‘landscape' as ‘building' from the northern perspective, and appreciated the provision of public access to the landscaped roofs providing viewing of the Fort York grounds from higher elevations. In particular, the sustainable design concepts and systems proposed by this scheme were well-received. Innovative proposals such as geo-thermal heating/cooling, and ‘infiltration wetlands' for storm water management were appreciated by the Jury.

The Jury felt that the proposal to re-create the historic Garrison Road alignment and 'macadam' paving in the central east/west passageway of the Visitor Centre was a very good idea. Some Jury members questioned the choice of exterior cladding materials being proposed from a durability standpoint (moisture from landscaped roof, wear and tear from public use, etc.).

(From jury report)

List of accessible documents

47 scanned / 38 viewable

IMPORTANT NOTICE : Unless otherwise indicated, photographs of buildings and projects are from professional or institutional archives. All reproduction is prohibited unless authorized by the architects, designers, office managers, consortiums or archives centers concerned. The researchers of the Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence are not held responsible for any omissions or inaccuracies, but appreciate all comments and pertinent information that will permit necessary modifications during future updates.
info@ccc.umontreal.ca

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