The Jury was greatly impressed with the development of this design and the author's response to criticism in Stage 1. The result was a sophisticated statement exercising great restraint and utilizing significant economy of means to achieve a beautiful effect. The concept of a low building raised on stilts, surrounding the activity area and visible from all sides, was most effective and allowed pedestrian participation at all times. Pools and garden under the building had a cool shaded quality which could be well-used to provide an important chiaroscuro effect with back lighting of sunfilled activity area, creating a focus and dramatizing action in the centre.
The circulation and planning were excellent, especially the placement of restaurant and administration areas. The design provided a great variety of neutral volumes and spaces for exhibition purposes; the suspended ceilings kept the structure outside and provided clear spans and complete freedom for servicing and development of exhibits.
The post-and-beam timber building creates a good image for Canada in Japan through its vocabulary of forms understood by the Japanese and, visualized among other pavilions, could achieve distinction by contrast. The quality of detailing was considered excellent. No attempt was made to produce Japanese effects and the design used true Canadian lumber technology and well-developed techniques with great refinement; the whole being eminently suitable for complete prefabrication.
In spite of this design being a fine technical and architectural achievement at a realistic cost within the budget, the Jury felt that the low-key statement was in danger of being monotonous and the use of wood along with the post-and-beam modular system might create a somewhat "passive" effect. The impact of the design would be thus diminished, even though this negative quality might be offset to some degree by the uniqueness of the amount of wood used within the en-vironment of the site.
In the Jury's opinion, the post-and-beam statement, although one which conveyed a warm and human ambiance, was not entirely a suitable image for a major pavillon. Canada in 1970, especially after Expo 67, has to make a more powerful and dramatic statement.
(From competition documentation)
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