1971 – Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is sited on an awkward triangular site, which it responds to aggressively by terminating in a sharp point. Most of the building has no windows and is finished in the local Tyndall limestone with its distinctive pattern. The overall wedge shape of the building has a piece removed to provide a large, sheltered terrace for the top floor restaurant. Various windows project from the sheer walls to allow some natural light into circulation spaces.

The team of Gustavo da Rosa and Number Ten Architectural Group won an architectural competition to design the gallery, and the jury described the building as a “brilliant symbolization of progressive Winnipeg”.

The main gallery space is on the third floor, with a smaller exhibition space, library facilities and offices on the mezzanine level. Internally most of the galleries have artificial lighting with the second level having some top lit spaces as well as some discrete windows. The building is easily navigated with a large central staircase linking the reception to the floors of galleries above. These areas and the stairs are all clad in local Tyndall limestone. In 2020 a new extension, Qaumajuq was added to the south, its curving exterior fitting into the recessed angles of what was previously the rear of the building.

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