This brilliant design was chosen unanimously by the Jury as the winner in Stage Il of the competition for its suitability for Expo '70. Among the many reasons for the Jury's decision were the boldness, daring and impact of the overall concept. Upon close examination the subtlety of the design, and the superb presentation of the project in all its aspects, including the professional competence shown in the resolution of technological and cost factors, gave confidence to the Sponsor that the project could be realised as conceived.
The winning design did not adopt any established "style" which might be considered dated in 1970. It was not merely an architectural monument. It resisted the ever-present tendency to be folksy and thus deny the present reality of Canada as a young country, the equal of any in its capacity to meet the challenge of an exploding world technology and to enter the age of global communications.
The concept of the pavilion is best described by a short quotation from the winner's report:
"From the outside, the leaning concrete forms have a mountainous scale. To lighten the forms and create an ambiguity and the double entente so much a part of Japanese aesthetics, the exterior surfaces are sheathed in mirror sloped at 45 degrees, reducing the mass of the pyramid to a reflection of the sky. This illusion evoking sky or hill, solid or void, could be the highlights of the arctic ice, the mass of mountains, vast prairie sky or the glitter of Canadian waters.
The sloping planes create an ambiguity of scale, distance, position and mass. Rising from out of a base of trees, the hard fine between the reflected image and the earth is muted and the sense of immensity is enhanced. The pavilion becomes a kinetic display of mood and change."
The absence of sharp demarcation edges to the forms, the surprise effect of slot entrances which compensates for lack of multiple entry points to the site; the sudden revelation and hint of a fantasy world within the mirrored walls; the effect of mirror views in all directions; the attraction of rotating multicoloured spinners which are essential to the design - all inter-relate to create a total effect of extreme subtlety, enigmatic, arbitrary and transcendental - so characteristic of Japanese aesthetics.
The pavilion thus becomes an excellent exhibit vehicle, allowing designers an adequate degree of freedom and latitude for closer integration between the building and the story-telling function of Canada. The design meets all mandatory requirements generously and provides excellent circulation with two routes allowing the choice of a courtyard view for memorable impression or a longer route for the complete message.
The quality of accommodation and the location of all auxiliary facilities appear satisfactory. Other aspects of the design such as landscaping, graphic design and technology, all of equally high standard are fully described and detailed on the drawings and in the comprehensive report.
While the quantity surveyors report that this design can be realised within the budget figure stated, they have also indicated areas where economies might be effected. The Jury therefore recommends that an immediate effort be made by the architects, in conjunction with the Sponsor and the quantity surveyors for the competition, to review the cost estimates, confirm prices and identify items in which cost escalation might occur. The Jury hopes that an alter-native way of achieving the mirrored surface can be found - a way which would be practical and - hopefully - less expensive without being detrimental to the quality of effect.
(From competition documentation)
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