Oh, Canada!
While Ontario, Quebec and Alberta put the finishing touches to Olympic pavilions designed with flair and distinction, the host country is preparing to welcome the world in a structure that is little more than a large, white, square-boxed tent.
And some of Canada's foremost architects are appalled.
"Something happened. It's embarrassing," Bing Thom, recipient of numerous awards and a member of the Order of Canada, said yesterday.
"This is a world event. As Canadians, we all want to put on a good show, and architecture can help. But from the outside, this pavilion is completely uninspiring."
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, meanwhile, is so upset by the process and end result, that its executive intends to express its concern directly to the government.
"This is a missed opportunity for Canada to demonstrate to the world what the country represents," said Vancouver architect Wayne De Angelis, regional director of the institute. "If we are going to be represented by just a white box that looks like something you can buy online, that's fine, but other pavilions are doing much more than that. It's sad."
Mr. De Angelis said there should have been at least some sort of design competition to give Canadian architects time and a chance to shine.
Instead, the government left the tendering process until late last fall, giving firms a mere two weeks to bid. The contract was won by a Chicago-based company, Giltspur Exhibits. The pavilion, with a total operating and construction budget of $10.4-million, is scheduled to open Feb. 13, the day after the Olympics begin. No food services or live entertainment is planned, and exhibits are minimal.
Vancouver design expert and professional engineer Sorin Tatomir said the pavilion may well look nice at night with its LED lights. But overall, he said, "the feel is that of a VANOC merchandising dispatch centre wrapped in an appropriately-coloured treatment. Any presentation centre build in Vancouver in the past 10 years, that I know of, was more successfully designed."
Mr. Thom said he was told by a senior business executive with high-level government contacts that Ottawa was in a panic last fall over the pavilion. "They left it too late. They ended up throwing money at the problem. And when that happens, something suffers. In this case, both budget and quality."
By contrast, Ontario's $9-million pavilion has a curving, wood exterior designed to evoke Niagara Falls, Quebec has constructed a dynamic white cube around an existing structure, while Alberta's attractive pavilion is covered by planks of individually cut wood. "It's very smart," Mr. De Angelis said.
Spokeswoman Emilie Rouleau said planning for the $4.9-million Maison du Québec began a year ago. The pavilion will open on Tuesday, featuring liquor and food from Quebec.
Ontario went to tender for its pavilion in March, with the contract awarded last August. Alberta completed its plans six months ago.
Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore bristled at criticism. "Sure, if we wanted to put 50 or a hundred million dollars into a pavilion, we might dazzle some architects out there, but the reality is, this is a hosting venue," he said. "It's family friendly, and I believe it's going to more than meet all the expectations that Canadians have for their pavilion."
With a report from Frances Bula,