Banff’s Cascades of Time gardens will flow with features in the not too distant future.
Banff Heritage Corporation touched upon this summer’s Cascades of Time renovation project and planning towards Banff’s Frank Lloyd Wright Pavilion during a Thursday (May15) meeting at Town Hall.
Parks Canada representative Susan Kennard informed the group that two of Cascades of Time’s pools will receive restoration over the summer.
“We’re hoping to have the first of those ponds completed before the ground freezes, the majority of the work would happen in July and August,” Kennard said.
“We will be returning water to two of the pools in the Cascades of Time Garden, the lower big pools. Tests they did last summer in terms of the technology of how to do it while respecting the heritage character of the construction and materials proved successful,” Kennard said. “We are going to have one little waterfall and two pools. It’s long overdue and I have to give credit to our superintendent Dave McDonough, he’s been a champion of that project.”
The heritage corporation also discussed options related to planning and development towards the Frank Lloyd Wright Pavilion.
“The Heritage Corporation in their capacity as an advisory committee passed a motion and decided together that they were not in favour of rebuilding in its same location, given the fact the location is in the flood plain and the difficulties in terms of maintenance and long-term investment,” said Claire Wilkinson, Town of Banff’s heritage planner and council member, on the corporation’s past discussions towards the project.
However, the corporation recommended instead that funds dedicated towards the project be reinvested into existing examples of Wright’s architecture in one form or another.
“You would have to raise the grade substantially, it would be very awkward in construction to raise it up,” said Randall McKay, Banff’s manager of planning and development on the obstacles one would face in a total restoration. “I just have issues about trying to recreate the architecture in general, it doesn’t make sense – you can pay homage to it in certain elements.”
McKay discussed the option of a commemorative route with the project. “You could do a plaque, you could do a model, you could do all kinds of things depending on how you see the value of it and if it would be of value,” McKay said.
Kennard referred to architectural displays found at New York’s Guggenheim Museum as a shining example of what can be put towards design displays for commemorative purposes, with BHC member Roland Charpentier agreeing a large model or even a public shelter format could be utilized. “If you just constructed a section of the building, then you’re not looking to fulfill the function.”
BHC will continue to discuss and gather information throughout the summer and fall before deciding the best way forward for the Lloyd Wright project.
