nikka yuko Bunka Centre

The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden was established during Canada’s 1967 Centennial as a symbol of international friendship, and to recognize contributions made by citizens of Japanese ancestry to the community of Lethbridge. The Nikka Yuko Bunka Centre opened November 2021 to enhance year-round programming and cultural experiences for visitors of the garden and adjacent Henderson Lake Park. SAinc is proud to receive the 2022 Prairie Wood Design Award in the Industry category for this project.

The project presented unique design challenges as the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden Society requested an iconic building that wouldn’t overwhelm the existing award winning garden. In response, we centered the design on a butterfly roof to boldly draw visitors from the west then redirect their focus toward the garden itself using the rise of the roof eastward.

Visitors are welcomed inside the building at its humblest point, the valley of the roof. Once inside the space broadens into an open commons area with a full glazed view of the garden and existing pavilion beyond.

The available funds met with the Society’s growing needs required skillful planning to design a building that is functional yet beautiful. Japanese design focuses on simple forms, reference for nature, and honest treatment of materials. The interior spaces respect and reflect these concepts. Exposed concrete floors throughout the common areas offer durability and honesty of the floor slab. The large community space and the exhibit room feature hardwood flooring - providing texture and visual warmth. In a nod to traditional Japanese Oak, White Oak is used throughout the interior for hardwood floors, millwork, and interior doors. On the exterior, dense Yellow Balau Batu tongue and groove flank the recessed visitor entry and embellish a column at the staff entry. These wooden highlights create a focal point for visitor entry while providing visual relief of the stucco exterior.

Photography: © Henriette Plas Photography