Mass Timber Museum Connects Indigenous Art, Landscape And Materiality

SPECTACLE Bureau for Architecture and Urbanism has presented its design for the Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art and Artifacts (MOAPAA). The museum will stand on the Portage College campus in Lac La Biche, Canada. It will house the world’s largest collection of work by the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (PNIAI).

The Indigenous-led project combines local mass timber, a moving wooden façade and a planted roof. The design is now in the fundraising stage, with completion planned for 2030.

A Landscape Inspired By Seven Artists

The museum site lies on First Nations land within Treaty 6 territory. The area is also a homeland of the Métis.

Seven oval paths will surround the building. Each path represents one of the historic PNIAI members: Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Alex Janvier, Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Carl Ray and Joseph M. Sánchez.

Where the paths meet, they form public areas near the entrance and sculpture garden. In addition, Indigenous artists will create a sculpture for each PNIAI member. The design team will also plant trembling aspen trees across the site. As a result, the landscape will support local wildlife and restore part of the area’s natural forest.

A Moving Timber Façade

The building’s wooden screen takes inspiration from the tall aspen trees. Vertical slats hang from hinges and move gently in the wind. In this way, the façade responds to the surrounding landscape.

At the same time, the screen provides shade and creates a sheltered route around the museum. Behind it, a ramp leads to a roof garden. Here, sage, sweetgrass, prairie flowers and other healing and ceremonial plants will grow. A wooden deck will provide an outdoor meeting place for up to 60 people.

Local Timber And Low-Carbon Systems

The architects plan to build most of the main structure from local, responsibly sourced mass timber. Moreover, the museum will use electric systems instead of fossil fuels. Heat recovery, ground-source heat exchangers and radiant heating will help control the indoor climate while limiting emissions.

However, the forest setting also brings fire risks. Therefore, the team has designed a fire-safe storage vault. It should protect the art collection even if a major forest fire destroys the main timber structure.

An Adaptable Museum Interior

Inside, movable walls will allow staff to change the gallery layout. A platform can also turn into stepped auditorium seating, benches or display stands. Alternatively, it can sink into the floor to create an open exhibition space.

This flexible design allows the 1,630-square-metre museum to host exhibitions, performances and gatherings. It also moves away from the fixed ‘white box’ gallery model. The project received a 2025 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.

Source & images: SPECTACLE (via v2com newswire)