The new Whiteshell Natural History Museum brings together layers of history, landscape, and learning within the remarkable setting of Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park. The design begins with the preserved fireplace from the original log cabin museum, now protected within a weathering steel structure. This vertical core anchors the project both physically and symbolically, establishing a clear spatial center that connects past and present while rising through the trees like the surrounding pines.

Radiating from this core, a family of smaller structures is shaped by the irregular geometry of Canadian Shield boulders. Together they form a flexible framework that supports changing programming, seasonal use, and a wide range of visitor experiences. The museum recognizes that encounters with natural history often happen outside the walls of a building. Pathways, decks, and gathering spaces invite visitors to climb, observe, and explore the landscape itself.

Material choices strengthen the connection to place. Stone, wood, and weathering steel echo the geology and forest of the region while providing durable and honest construction. Organized as a series of pavilions rather than a single building, the museum encourages movement between interior exhibits and the surrounding environment, creating a place for learning, reflection, and shared experience.