Governor General's Medals in Architecture - 2020 Recipient | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Governor General's Medals in Architecture - 2020 Recipient

Remai Modern
Saskatoon,
SK
Award Category: 
Governor General’s Medals in Architecture

KPMB Architects and Architecture49

Lead design architect(s): 

KPMB Project Team: Bruce Kuwabara, FRAIC, Shirley Blumberg, FRAIC, Matthew Wilson, Paulo Rocha, Matthew Krivosudsky, Terry Kim, Marcus Colonna, David Poloway, Klaudia Lengyel, Jessica Juvet.

Architecture49 Project Team: Grant Van Iderstine, MRAIC, Ron Martin, Brad Cove, Jim Yamashita, FRAIC, Rick Linley, FRAIC, Jaret Klymchuk, Corrine Golden, Phil Harms, Michael Conway, MRAIC,  Geoffrey Bulmer, Calee Gushuliak, Ian Douglas, Daryl Hnylycia, Donna Todd, Neil Hulme.

Occupancy: October 21, 2017
Construction Budget: $80.2 million

The mandate of the Remai Modern is “to enable transformative experiences by connecting art with local and global communities.” The architecture, conceived as an open, flexible and accessible platform, has enabled the Remai to fulfill its goal to be a leading centre for art in Canada, and to provide a supportive platform for contemporary Indigenous art and discourse. From its prominent location on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, the Remai modern connects art, the city, environment, and interiors to shape a civil community where people come together, to enjoy and share their viewpoints through the lens of art.

Jury Comment(s): 

“This imposing museum makes a monumental statement about the continuing importance of art in Saskatoon. The gigantic cantilevered boxes showcase acrobatic engineering and minimal, crisp construction details. The boxes reach out to the sides of the site to capture views across the landscape to the South Saskatchewan River. Overall, it makes a coherent exterior expression out of a complicated program, organized internally around a canyon-like atrium.”

Jury members

Click for full version: 
South elevation

PHOTO: Adrien Williams

View from River Landing

PHOTO: Nic Lehoux

Atrium and entrance lobby with installation by Haegue Yang, Four Times Sol LeWitt Upside Down — Version Point to Point, 2016-2017. Made from aluminum blinds the installation responds to the scale and proportion of the atrium and realizes Remai’s vision for a gallery that inspires art everywhere.

PHOTO: Tom Arban

Atrium, viewed from second floor, looking north. (left); Third floor atrium view, looking south, to the River. (right)

PHOTO: Tom Arban

Second floor terrace looking east to river. (left); Third floor public realm leading to the main galleries. (right)

PHOTO: Adrien Williams (left), Tom Arban (right)

View from River Landing at dusk

PHOTO: Nic Lehoux