Design Principles

?The National Museum of Man grows out of the landscape and is indiscernible from it. It moves and flows with the contours of the land.? ? Douglas Cardinal. In 1982, the Government of Canada engaged in the design and construction of a new National Museum of Man ? now the Canadian Museum of History, an iconic building on the shores of the Ottawa River. Based on the strength of his vision, Douglas Cardinal was selected from among 12 distinguished finalists as the architect of record. Today, the Canadian Museum of History is the largest and most visited museum in the country, and the building is a must-see destination for tourists visiting the region. In his Design Principles, Cardinal reflects on his vision for the building and its surroundings ? how the grand curvilinear forms allow visitors to feel the Museum's connection with nature. Moving through its spaces is an extraordinarily interesting experience that is truly Canadian.