Niagara Falls
This building strives to accomplish several things. The Visitor Center’s main goal is to enhance the visitor’s experience at Niagara Falls. The way that the building helps to bring the experience of the falls to the visitor is by reflecting the movement and flowing rhymes of the falls. From elevation, the building’s gradual growth out of the ground is symbolic of the river’s increasing size and velocity as it approaches the drop. From plan the building’s curves immolate the natural flow of water. Another very important design aspect of this building is the interplay with the landscape. Because it is nature and the natural environment that visitors are coming to see, it is very important for the building not to be too intrusive on the landscape. The forms of this build emphasis the experience of the river by creating circulation paths that move over, under, in-between and though the program and landscape alike. This interplay with the landscape and blurring on what is inside and what is out will give the visitors a more engaged experience of the falls. In addition this building is symbolic of the falls in that the building appears to be three separate entities, but in actuality the building is one single unit. Like the Niagara Falls which is divided up into 3 separate falls, it can also be considered one waterfall or unit. Creating a transparent feel was another important goal of the building’s design. By making creating a transparent feel, it allowed the building to mirror the transparent properties and attributes of water. The clear and frosted glazing also allowed for a more unified existence and experience with nature, as well as creating ample natural light and opportunity for views.