Douglas Cardinal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Douglas Cardinal
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Cardinal in 2016
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Douglas Joseph Cardinal
7 March 1934 |
| Alma mater | University of British Columbia University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation | Architect |
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| Projects | National Museum of the American Indian Grande Prairie Regional College Canadian Museum of History |
Douglas Joseph Cardinal OC FRAIC (born 7 March 1934) is a famous Canadian architect. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario. His building style is inspired by his Indigenous background. It also uses ideas from European Expressionist architecture. Cardinal is best known for designing the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec (1989). He also designed the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. (1998). He is seen as one of Canada's most important modern architects.
Contents
Life Story
Douglas Cardinal was born in Calgary, Alberta. He is the oldest of eight children. His parents were Joseph and Frances Cardinal. Douglas is a member of the Siksika Nation. His father had Siksika (Blackfoot), French, and Ojibwe roots. His mother had German, French, and Mohawk/Métis heritage. His mother was a nurse and very educated. She told him at a young age, "You’re going to be an architect."
Cardinal grew up near Red Deer, Alberta. He went to St. Joseph's Convent Catholic, a boarding school. The Sisters who ran the school taught him about arts and culture. This religious school greatly influenced him. Living away from his family made him focus on his studies. He was inspired by traditional sacred architecture. He wanted to create spaces that felt as powerful as churches. This sparked his passion for architecture early on.
In 1953, he started studying architecture at the University of British Columbia (UBC). But he had to leave two years later. His new ideas about architecture did not fit with the popular modernism style. He wanted to design buildings that worked with nature. He aimed for organic shapes and rhythms. This was very new in the 1950s. A director at UBC told him he had "a wrong background" for the program. After leaving UBC, he worked as a draftsman in Red Deer. He also faced racism against Indigenous people in Canada. So, he decided to move south. He stopped in Arizona and Mexico. He then settled in Texas. He went to the University of Texas at Austin. He earned his architecture degree in 1963.
At university, he also studied cultural anthropology. This was due to his cultural background. His ideas were based on respecting life and nature. He felt that many buildings were not designed for people. He was inspired by architect Rudolf Steiner. Steiner's work led Douglas to study anthropomorphism. This idea means designing buildings that respond to human behavior. It also considers natural cycles and the beauty of the land. This fit well with Cardinal's Indigenous heritage. Another architect who inspired him was Frank Lloyd Wright. Cardinal liked Wright's organic way of using natural materials. These included stone and brick, to blend with the landscape. In Texas, he truly embraced his Indigenous heritage. One of his professors even encouraged him to learn more about his background.
Career Highlights
Cardinal opened his own architecture firm in 1964. That same year, he was asked to design St. Mary's Church in Red Deer, Alberta. The church was finished in 1968. It is now a famous example of Canadian architecture. In 2007, the church was even featured on a Canada Post stamp. This stamp honored Canadian architects.
Douglas Cardinal was one of the first architects in North America to use computers for design. His curvy designs reflect the land around them. This helps people inside the building feel connected to nature. He found that computers helped him create his unique shapes. They also helped him plan the exact sizes of his buildings.
In 1993, the Smithsonian Institution hired him. He was the main design architect for the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The NMAI is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. It is right across from the U.S. Capitol. Due to some disagreements, Cardinal left the project in 1998. But he still shared his ideas for the building's design.
In 2008, his firm was hired to design a museum and convention center. This was for the Kirkland Foundation in Union City, Tennessee. The Discovery Park of America was meant to be a special building. It would hold a multi-level museum and host large meetings. In 2009, his firm's contract ended. Construction stopped due to differences between the two sides.
Architectural Style and Philosophy
Douglas Cardinal faced challenges early in his life. These included racism and pressure to conform. It was in Texas that he fully embraced his Indigenous heritage. In the 1970s, Cardinal developed his unique style. This style used organic, curvy forms. He also started wearing traditional Indigenous clothing. He became a strong supporter of Indigenous rights. This deep connection to his culture greatly influenced his work.
Many Indigenous philosophies respect nature. They see humans as part of the environment. These ideas led to his use of natural materials and organic shapes. He also studied how sunlight and soil affect buildings. He wanted to create spaces that moved people spiritually. He wanted them to appreciate their surroundings. Indigenous philosophy also has a different view of time. It values nature's strength and ability to last. So, his architecture aims to last for "seven generations." This is different from building quickly for economic reasons.
St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church in Red Deer, Alberta, was Cardinal's first building. When he returned to Alberta, he met Father Werner Merx. Father Merx wanted a new church that was fresh and unique. The archbishop had already chosen another architect. But Merx insisted on hiring Cardinal. He wanted Cardinal to bring his vision to life. The archbishop who needed convincing was Anthony Jordan. He had helped Cardinal with a legal matter years before. So, Douglas Cardinal was approved for the job.
The church has 750 seats inside. It uses special skylights to bring in natural light. Cardinal started this project in 1967. It was so challenging that he wondered if he could finish it. But the building became one of his most famous designs. It helped define his architectural style. He combined his ideas about nature and organic forms. He created a church that was unique for its time.
Canadian Museum of History
This building opened in 1989. It was then called the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It truly shows Cardinal's architectural style. It is influenced by his Indigenous heritage. The design focuses on how it fits with its surroundings. The museum is on the banks of the Ottawa River. It faces Parliament Hill. Many large government buildings in the city face away from the river. But Cardinal designed the Great Hall to open towards the river. This makes it unique in the area.
The building's outer shape is organic and curvy. It looks like it was shaped by nature. It feels welcoming and inviting. Cardinal also used the same limestone as the Parliament building. This showed his respect for Parliament. Inside, the museum includes totem poles and Indigenous murals. He wanted the space to feel alive and dynamic. He did not want its shape to be limited by its purpose. Former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau encouraged Cardinal. He wanted a museum where people could learn from each other. This idea of a multicultural Canada fit well with Cardinal's vision.
However, in 1984, the new government did not approve of Cardinal's design. He faced many challenges. But he was determined to finish the project. After many years of defending his design, he completed the museum. It became one of his most important projects.
The Group of Seven Architects
In the 20th century, there were important art groups. One was the Canadian Group of Seven painters. Cardinal was part of a similar group of architects. This group included some of Canada's most important architects. Among them were Moshe Safdie, Raymond Moriyama, and Arthur Erickson. This group encouraged Cardinal. They often shared ideas and a passion for great architecture. Their styles were different. But they all agreed on creating buildings with meaning and beauty. They did not just want to build commercial skyscrapers.
Notable Works
Here are some of the many projects Douglas Cardinal has completed:
- St. Mary's Church (1968) Red Deer, Alberta
- Diamond Jenness Secondary School (1972) Hay River, Northwest Territories
- Fairview Elementary School (1975) Red Deer, Alberta
- Grande Prairie Regional College (1976) Grande Prairie, Alberta
- St. Albert Place & City Hall (1976) St. Albert, Alberta
- Edmonton Space And Science Centre (1984) Edmonton, Alberta (now Telus World of Science)
- Canadian Museum of History (1989) in Gatineau, Quebec
- York Region Administrative Centre (1992) in Newmarket, Ontario
- National Museum of the American Indian (1993–1998) Washington
- First Nations University (2003) in Regina, Saskatchewan
- Wabano Centre (2013) Ottawa, Ontario
- Gordon Oakes Red Bear Centre (2016) at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Unceded: Voices of the Land Exhibition (2018) at the Venice Biennale
- Oujé-Bougoumou Village, Oujé-Bougoumou, Quebec
Achievements and Awards
Douglas Cardinal has written several books about his work and ideas:
- Of the Spirit, NeWest Press (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), 1977.
- (With Trevor Boddy) The Architecture of Douglas Cardinal, NeWest Press (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), 1989.
- (With Jeanette C. Armstrong) The Native Creative Process, Theytus Books, 1994.
He has received many awards for his architectural work:
- In 2005, he received The Distinguished Artist Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. This was for "creating an indigenous style of Canadian architecture." This style uses graceful, organic forms.
- Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, 1983.
- Canada Council Molson Prize for the Arts, 1993.
- Aboriginal Achievement Award, 1995.
- RAIC Gold Medal for Architectural Achievement, 1999.
- Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts, 2001.
- United Nations Award for Sustainable Design, for Oujé-Bougoumou Village, Quebec, 2002.
- Golden Jubilee Medal in honor of Her Majesty The Queen’s 50th Anniversary, 2002.
- A Canada Post postage stamp featured Douglas Cardinal and St. Mary's Church in 2007. This honored the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's 100th Anniversary.
Personal Life
Douglas Cardinal has eight children. His current wife is Idoia Arana-Beobide. She is from Basque country and is 30 years younger than him. They met in 1988 when the Canadian Museum of History was being built. At that time, she was a tour guide there. They have two children, Aritz and Lorea. They live in Ottawa. His wife works as a director at his architecture firm.
