Museum of Anthropology at UBC

This building held MOA before its current building; it is currently the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC’s Vancouver campus. MOA’s operations officially began in 1947, when Audrey Hawthorn was appointed the museum’s first curator. But the first objects came to UBC in the 1920s from the personal collection of Frank Barnett, who collected objects from his travels throughout the Pacific Islands. The original collection was housed in the basement of the main library up until the construction of the new building in the 1970s. Hawthorn’s museum philosophy was based on education and research, and she envisioned the museum as first and foremost a teaching institution.

MOA is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam First Nation. Unceded means this land was never surrendered, relinquished, or handed over in any way. Specially commissioned artworks by Musqueam artists Susan Point and Joe Becker greet visitors to the Museum when they arrive onsite. Inside, the first items that visitors see in the galleries include a spectacular blanket that MOA commissioned in 1997 from Musqueam artists Debra and Robyn Sparrow, located at the top of the Ramp. Every large public event at the museum is opened with a welcome from a Musqueam Elder or representative, and all school visits begin with an acknowledgement of Musqueam territory.
The Great Hall houses large poles, house posts, and carved figures. Fifteen-metre high glass walls allow visitors to view the site’s beautiful grounds, and the concrete aggregate and grey carpet blend into the pebble and shell beach outside, making the space flowing visually from inside to outdoors. The Great Hall was built specifically to fit the large carvings in the museum’s collections so they can be viewed as if outside, and it also provides space for large gatherings to take place.

The Raven and the First Men, carved by renowned Haida artist Bill Reid, is perhaps the most iconic work of art at MOA, illustrating a Haida creation story. Architect Arthur Erickson designed the space especially for the sculpture to be installed. The Raven and the First Men was placed on one of the three circular WWII concrete gun emplacements incorporated into MOA’s building, allowing viewers to see the work from multiple angles. The bright skylight installed above the sculpture and surrounding sand brought by children from Rose Spit, Haida Gwaii breathes new life and meaning into the older architectural features of the emplacement.
The remainder of this presentation will focus on MOA’s architects and their inspiration for the building’s design.

Arthur Erickson was the world-renowned architect who designed MOA’s current award-winning building. He was a strong advocate for cultural awareness, which was frequently apparent in his architectural designs. His work often reflected an intricate use of space and light, as evident in his design of MOA’s Great Hall and gallery spaces.

Erickson is quoted as saying “When you design a museum, the important thing is to ask questions about the real nature of the institution… how can it make a valid contribution to our lives.” What did Erickson mean by this statement? How does the architecture of a museum impact the visitor’s experience?

Erickson worked closely with landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander to create an intentional relationship between the interior and exterior of the building. Oberlander believes that architecture must respect and enhance the existing landscape. Plants and grasses surrounding the museum were selectively chosen by Oberlander to represent plant life Indigenous to the Northwest Coast. She is quoted as saying “We must learn to live more modestly and must not lose sight of our innate need to be surrounded by… the glory of our natural world.”
What do the plants surrounding MOA communicate about the museum? How does the built structure of your school or home relate to the natural landscape around it? Does it harmonize with the landscape, or contrast?

Arthur Erickson drew inspiration from multiple sources to communicate a social, cultural and spiritual significance within MOA’s spaces. What similarities can you find between images of MOA in the top row, and the other structures in the bottom row?
What might Erickson have been trying to communicate through his design?

Erickson’s designs were in part inspired by elements of Northwest Coast First Nations architecture that has existed for thousands of years. Traditional longhouses of the region are characterised by large open spaces and the post and beam forms reflected in the exterior of the Great Hall, pictured here. Whereas cedar is the primary construction material of Northwest Coast First Nations architecture, MOA’s building includes similar forms in concrete.

Erickson often spoke of his respect for world cultures, specifically in reference to the Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Though perhaps not as strong as this connection, some of MOA’s forms may also be reflective of Classical Greek architectural styles. He was quoted as having marvelled at the way larger-than-life Greek statues had powerful gazes, and the strong presence of the large Northwest Coast carvings in the Great Hall may be a reflection of the role of statues in Greek architecture. Typical features of Classical Greek architecture include the use of symmetry, columns, and limestone as a building material.

There may also be reflections of traditional Japanese architecture in MOA’s design, characterized by simple, clean forms. Religious beliefs or cultural faiths can also be functions of architecture. For instance, the Japanese Shinto shrine is often marked by the presence of a torii, representing gateways or entrances to the shrine where a kami (or god) is worshipped. The front of MOA is similar in shape to a Japanese torii, as is the main entrance to the museum. Did Erickson envision entering MOA to be akin to entering a special or sacred place? We don’t actually know if Erickson was influenced by Japanese architectural styles in these particular locations at the museum, but we can visually compare their structures.