The National Art Gallery of Canada (Architecture Essay Sample)

The National Art Gallery of Canada is one of Ottawa's most important structures. It was built between 1982 and 1988 and was designed by Moshe Safdie Architects. The building houses Canada's national art collection and is home to many different artistic styles and iconic works. The primary materials used in the building's construction are glass, concrete, and pink granite.

The experience of the building begins as the viewer approaches it on Sussex drive in Ottawa. The building is 55,740 square meters and sits high above the Ottawa river near the Market in downtown Ottawa. From the outside, one can gauge the monumental size of the building and its important location. From the exterior, one can see the complex geometric glass pavilions located at the key entrances and great hall that make up the building's iconic shape. 

The building is entered through a small glass pavilion. This first glass pavilion is where visitors pause to orient themselves and view sculptural artwork displayed in the middle. 

From here, the circulation route is clear and formal; visitors are drawn into a corridor where they ascend a long linear ramp up to the main larger pavilion, the great hall. The ceiling and west wall of this ramped corridor are made entirely of glass and are multiple stories tall; the width of the hall is narrow compared to its overall height. The passage gives the impression of a formal ceremonial space and is reminiscent of the central axis of a cathedral, with repeating concrete columns that help divide the space into bay-like sections; this creates rhythm and intuitively draws the visitor towards the great hall located at the end. This ramped corridor is one of the most critical spaces in the building because it is one of the first areas that the viewer experiences upon entering. The sheer size of the space communicates the importance of the monumental structure as a civic institution in Canada. Additionally, the use of concrete suggests the structure is solid and well-grounded. However, the extensive glass allows the corridor to be filled with light, giving the viewer an awe-inspiring and weightless impression. Natural light is a prominent element throughout all areas of the building, including the galleries.

The corridor opens up into the main glass pavilion, which is 42 meters in height. This space is similar to the first glass pavilion but is larger and more grand. The shape of the great hall is an abstract geometric interpretation of parliament's library that is visible through the glass walls of the pavilion. Visitors also have commanding views of the Ottawa river from this raised location in the building; these views help extend the perceptual space beyond the walls of the great hall, making it feel even more vast. This hall acts as a node and provides a sense of arrival to the Gallery. It Is a natural location for visitors to pause and admire the views or purchase tickets to the exhibits. The geometric shape of the room and the triangular mullions in the glass create patterns of light on the floor, giving the space an optical texture as well as visual interest to surfaces that are otherwise quite monolithic. The concrete and glass materials are texturally very smooth, and the pink granite is only slightly modeled, meaning that the texture in this building is almost exclusively optical.  

From the great hall, visitors travel into the other major corridor in the building that runs perpendicular to the entrance ramp; it is from here that the galleries are entered. This corridor also features a glass roof. 

The galleries themselves are much more enclosed but still value natural light. There are thin strips of glass on the ceiling in the upper floor displays that allow light to enter. This light is different from the light in the processional circulation spaces and pavilions as it does not contribute optical texture or shadows to the space, and there are no views out of the windows. This provides natural light without causing detraction from the displayed artworks.

Additionally, the path of travel in the galleries is less prescriptive and formal than that of the circulation spaces that lie outside. The rooms have multiple openings, and there are many ways to move in between them; this encourages wandering and allows visitors to become immersed in the artwork and less aware of their exact location in the building. 

In the National Gallery, spaces in the building transition from formal impressive circulation spaces to more inclosed introspective areas to view artwork. The architects rely on specific divisions of space and architectural elements to dictate how people experience the Gallery and the artwork inside. Upon studying how the National Gallery is experienced, one can understand how the design elements influence the viewer's interaction with the structure and determine how it is used.