The Winnipeg Art Gallery’s much anticipated Inuit Art Centre opens to the world this year. To learn more, we spoke with lead architect Michael Maltzan, principal of Michael Maltzan Architecture, on his approach to this unique project.
INUIT ART QUARTERLY: We’d like to take a step back to look at the beginnings of the Inuit Art Centre. What drew you to this project?
MICHAEL MALTZAN: The Inuit Art Centre represents a compelling and interesting set of challenges. It is meant to represent a culture in the fullest way possible while being extremely inviting and connected to the broader culture of Winnipeg and beyond. It needs to connect to the existing Winnipeg Art Gallery while ensuring both structures have their own strong identities, working in concert. It’s a series of design ambitions that make it an incredibly unique, one-of-a-kind project.
IAQ: You mention the existing structure of the WAG, designed by Gustavo da Roza and completed in 1971. Could you tell us about how you approached designing the Inuit Art Centre in dialogue with that building?
MM: Certainly, the WAG was a significant project in Winnipeg and Canada and to the history of modern architecture. We tried to give the Centre its own identity, rooted in Inuit culture. The WAG has very specific entry points into the building. In contrast, for the Centre, we made the entire bottom floor transparent and visible to the street. At the same time we needed to create a scale for the Centre that related to the WAG. Inside, we took care to ensure the buildings are linked at each of the four floors so that visitors can move between the buildings in an extremely easy and accessible way.
IAQ: How has designing the Inuit Art Centre differed from previous projects you’ve done?
MM: What has stood out to me is how deeply affected I’ve been, but also how affected
I’ve seen other people be by the art. Like all great art, it brings us close to the visions, amibitions, feelings and hopes of the artists. That has been for me the guiding sense of purpose, but even more so, the responsibility that I have felt in making this building.
IAQ: What do you hope visitors take away from their experience of the Inuit Art Centre?
MM: The real goal of the Centre is to become a supporting armature for the art and to create a direct and powerful connection for visitors to that work. This project has been one of collaboration and dialogue with a great number of people who are dedicated to making the Centre, with the artists at the forefront. I certainly hope that people will be able to see their impact on this building and that it allows for the ar tists to have their work seen and experienced in a profound way.
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The Inuit Art Centre project is led by Michael Maltzan Architecture in collaboration with local Associate Architect Cibinel Architecture Ltd.