National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada houses 132,700 square feet of galleries as well as facilities for educational programs, conservation, art storage, and administration. The design takes advantage of a prominent waterfront site overlooking Parliament. A gently ramped colonnade leads from the main entrance on Sussex Drive to the Great Hall with Spectacular views across to Parliament and a panorama of the Ottawa River. From the Great Hall the promenade forms a second axis leading to the Rotunda. All galleries are entered from either the Great Hall or the Rotunda. Beyond the Rotunda, a continuation of the axis of the promenade leads to the separate curatorial wing, connected to the main building by bridges at each principal level. The large areas of exhibition space are organized into legible groups of galleries with distinct characters appropriate to their parts of the collection. Within the gallery areas a clear sense of orientation is sought by frequent reference to the exterior, the public spaces of the building, and the courtyards which the circuits of galleries are planned. Controlled daylight was preferred for most gallery spaces. Special skylight systems were devised relying on relatively small glazed areas. Daylighting was required for the Canadian collection even though this was to be located on the lower of the two gallery floors. The solution devised, and carefully tested, involved shafts lined with reflective material transmitting diffused daylight through the upper level of the galleries. The building is clad in grey and pink granite from Tadoussac, Quebec. The glazed roof of the Great Hall and other public spaces have become landmarks in the Ottawa skyline, juxtaposed to the Gothic forms of the Library of Parliament and the Notre-Dame Basilica.