The Audain Art Museum board has chosen Vancouver firm Patkau Architects to design its 2,500-square-metre building in Whistler Village, board member Jim Moodie announced in a press release Wednesday.
Architects John and Patricia Patkau, both members of the Order of Canada, have received Governor General awards for architecture for 13 of their projects. Earlier this year their work was also featured in the Venice Biennale for Architecture in the Five North American Architects exhibit.
"We are delighted that John and Pat have agreed to undertake this commission," says Moodie. "It will, no doubt, result in an exciting building which will add to the diversity of things to enjoy in Whistler."
Despite their Lower Mainland location, the pair has never worked on a cultural project in B.C. Samples of the firm's projects on its website range from clusters of wooden skate shelters in Winnipeg to the glass-encased Beaty Biodiversity Centre at the University of British Columbia and a series of cottages built into the rolling hills of Bear Run, Pennsylvania.
Moodie told the Pique they were searching for architects who "would be sensitive to things that are unique to Whistler and sensitive to what's going on inside the building."
Last month, art collector Michael Audain announced he'd chosen Whistler as the permanent home for his extensive private collection of First Nations and contemporary B.C. art. The Regional Municipality of Whistler will provide the land, between day parking lots three and four in the village, while Audain will fund the construction of the building.
