Another locally know architect today: Douglas Cardinal. Based in Ottawa, Cardinal, born in Calgary, Alberta, is of Blackfood ancestry.

Cardinal is best known for the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau which was constructed in the 80s.

He also designed the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC in 2004.



More recently he designed the Wabano Centre in Vanier. A centre for Aboriginal Health.

Another prolific architect. Dare I say another one of my favourites: Moshe Safdie.

We must start with Habit 67 which essentially put Safdie on the international map. These condos made of prefabricated concrete forms have aged to perfection acquiring iconic status. I’ve not done a lot of research but according to how many cubes the condo occupies you’re looking at $500,000 to $600,000 and beyond of course.

Next his expansion of the original City Hall on Green Island. The main building constructed in 1958 in the International Style was at one point not very respected and could have easily fallen victim of the wrecking ball. Safdie found a way in the early 90s to integrate it marvelously into his expansion; with similar materials and similar size openings he created a delightful dialogue between the original structure and the additions.

The National Art Gallery of Canada. What a building! And what a location! Louise Bourgeois’ Maman is proud to call it home. Who cannot be in awe walking up the collonade while looking at a garden reproducing A.Y. Jackson’s painting Terre Sauvage and then to arrive in the Great Hall. The great hall which echoes in glass the Library of Parliament across the way in stone in metal.

Finally in 2011 Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. These buildings appear to be so surreal they seem like a concept design and yet there they stand. How would you like to swim in the illusion pool at the top? Of course Molly said she’d swim to the edge in a nano second. I’m thinking I might follow her but I’d like to be moored to a nearby pillar.

Previous posts on other architects: Antoni Gaudi, Frank Gehry, Le Corbusier, Richard Meier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright.