“Perhaps we could best begin by observing that the idea of a building totally integrated with its surroundings is the precise opposite of the classical principle of architecture that was in Canada, say, a century earlier.” (Gowans, 208)

Changing Landscape

During the initial construction of the museum David Ewart struggled to create the massive central tower of the building due to the extreme weight of the stone structure and the always shifting clay landscape the building was constructed upon (Debanne 36). For this reason, his intended design “was never fully realized” until the architect group responsible for the renovations in 2005 could apply modern principles and ideas to this dilemma (Debanne 36). Extensive shoring was added to the foundation to ensure it could exist harmoniously with the landscape’s movements, rather than fight against it (Debanne 36). Modern architecture and engineering have a better understanding of the principles of the natural world and adapt accordingly, rather than forcing nature to conform to the will of human existence. The second component that allowed modern architecture to succeed in the creation of the tower was a “new understanding of space and light” and the application of materials found in nature (Gowans 199). 

The Glass Tower

The glass tower of the Museum of Nature appears as though it grew out of the older stone façade and is somehow suspended in existence (See Figure 7.0). This is possible because of the advances in modern engineering and an understanding of the natural world. The discovery and use of steel make it possible for a small amount of material to be projected across a great distance and then covered with a thin layer of glass. These discoveries “allow architects to treat buildings like sculpture, and mold great three-dimensional compositions of space and light” (Gowans 199). The result is an architecture that bears “no division between [itself] and the world around […] [It] melts imperceptibly into the other” (Gowans 208). This idea can be experienced when standing on the butterfly staircase, looking into the glass lantern (See Figure 7.1 & 7.2). The viewer is standing inside the structure but there is only a thin sheet of glass separating them from the outside world. The way the tower juts out from the rest of the structure allows for a 180-degree experience of nature.
 

“Where, exactly, does a building like this end, and the space around it begin? We simply can’t tell, for the walls have to all intents and purposes been dissolved. Inner and outer space are inextricably fused. The building and its surroundings are one; architectural space is completely fluid and undefined.” (Gowans 201-203)

Light As Nature

By replacing the stone structure of the main tower with an entirely glass façade, natural light filters into the central lobby of the museum on a level that could never be realized in the original stone exterior. Light filters into the Victorian era structure, covering everything it touches (See Figure 8.0 & 8.1). Another example of this is the use of glass in the construction of the railings for the “butterfly staircase”. The original wood staircases we see in the Victorian lobby would have hindered this light, but the glass staircase allows it to pass through and illuminate the interior space of the building (See Figure Interior).

   
“Even the most artificially built environment is part of the natural world; nature, in fact, does not exist as a separate entity: we are always inside an environment with a group of other interdependent living organisms.” (Manacorda 15)

Conclusion

How we have thought about and interacted with the natural world has evolved throughout history, but what remains true is that we are inextricably linked to one another (Ellis XV). Nature teaches us how to grow and adapt, and it forces us “to build cleverly [and] economically” (Hussainni & Kasim 1). The Canadian Museum of Nature and its evolution over the past century reflects this evolving theme of nature in architecture. As we move forward, architecture should continue to reflect how important that relationship is to our survival.