METRO PLAZA - Croydon and Osborne Intersection, Winnipeg, Manitoba

As a plaza is necessarily defined by the structures which surround it and requiring tall buildings on almost all sides to give it its sense of "place", the intersection of Corydon and Osborne presented a challenge to Gaboury. Large and loosely knit, the buildings dispersed by large traffic circulation routes, the area lacked the unity and containment that a proper plaza would require. Gaboury countered this by depressing the site and encompassing it with a wall, giving it the enclosed quality it requires. The concrete fins serve as both the main landmark of the site as seen by vehicular traffic, and as the major entrance for the pedestrian. The compressed space between the fins exaggerates the plaza's horizontality and provides a strong transitional space between the intersection and the plaza. While the trees and fountain are obviously the major focal points of the plaza, Gaboury has also experimented with marginal details to increase the aesthetic appreciation of the experience, such as taking advantage of the sloping walls to sculpt seats of various dimensions and heights. Concerned as always with the structure's relationship to nature, Gaboury looks forward to the gradual weathering of the site for the greater warmth and character with which the materials will acquire. Aware that the plaza must be as relevant during the winter months as in the summer, Gaboury has dotted the site with strong sculptural forms which "stand as an invitation to nature to produce a bold winterscape."

Note: This project received a special Royal Architecture Institute Urban Design Award; it was demolished by the City in 1985 to build a community centre.

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