Hello and welcome.
I’m Paul Legris from  
the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
and I will be taking you on a virtual tour 
of the Museum’s architecture.
We know that you can’t 
come visit right now,
and we want you to stay home, be safe, 
and keep your community safe.
That’s why we’ve created this short virtual tour for you.
Come with me to explore 
this amazing museum;
I’d like to share with you some of its 
spectacular architectural highlights.
The Museum is in
Winnipeg, Manitoba
and close to the geographic 
centre of Canada.
It is situated on ancestral land,
on Treaty One Territory.
The Red River Valley is also 
the homeland of the Métis
And we acknowledge that the 
water in the Museum
is sourced from 
Shoal Lake 40 First Nation.
Architect Antoine Predock 
designed the Museum,
drawing inspiration from 
the Canadian landscape:
mountains, clouds, 
Prairie grasses, ice and snow,
masterfully weaving symbolism of  
human rights within the design.
The building’s grounds are
landscaped with Prairie grasses
to create a drought-tolerant ecosystem.
This makes the site the largest 
tract of native vegetation
in an urban setting in Western Canada.
The building has four major components:
the Roots, the Cloud, 
the Mountain and the Tower.
Entering the Museum through the Roots,
our journey begins.
Like a tree, the Roots 
reach out to stabilize,
protect and provide a 
foundation for growth.
They are clad in Tyndall limestone 
sourced  in Manitoba.
Look at these stunning alabaster 
ramps crisscrossing the building
They are aproximately 800 metres long,
and they will take us almost all 
the way up to the top,
of the Israel Asper Tower of Hope.
This interior  walkway allows us to move
freely from gallery to gallery.
Notice the changing vantage points
that reveal some  breathtaking
and striking spots along the way.
Alabaster, a semi-translucent material, 
is admired for its aesthetic beauty
while some cultures value it for
its perceived healing qualities.
We hope you will come
for a visit and touch the soft stone.
You’ll feel the warm and comforting 
glow that lights your path.
As we approach the higher levels,
more natural light flows into the 
building through the glass windows.
Taken together, 
these windows are called the Cloud,
and they reflect the Prairie sky.
With its 1,300 panels of different sizes
this is the most complex component 
of the Museum’s architecture.
It is supported by a vast 
arrangement of steel trusses
resembling tree branches.
Because of the unique way in which 
the glass panes come together,
this part of the Museum has
also been interpreted by many
to replicate the wings 
of a dove or an eagle.
Protecting the building,
and the human rights stories
and aspirational principles 
of equality shared within.
The Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation 
is the “heart of the Museum"
and the perfect location 
to view the intersection of
of the Museum’s building 
materials up close:
Stone,  glass, steel and concrete.
There are two ways to reach the tower
using the elevator or the stairs.
Look at all the shapes and angles 
we can see  from this elevation.
Did you notice how much light is 
streaming into this part of the Museum?
Let’s take the stairs to get to the 
viewing platform in the tower.
The Tower of Hope reaches a height 
of 100 metres at its very top.
It’s named after the late Israel Asper,
a visionary and philanthropist
from Winnipeg
who imagined a world class 
human rights hub in Canada.
His idea was supported by many
and was eventually realized as one 
of Canada’s six national museums.
Let’s enjoy the panoramic view of the city 
and the surrounding prairie landscape.
We can see out to buildings and areas
that have shaped our human rights history.
The tower’s  design was inspired by ice
and is composed of 334 custom-cut 
panels of clear glass.
Personally, I find it an ideal place 
to pause and recharge.
What do you think?
Thank you for spending time with us today.
And before you go,
reflect on your journey through
the Museum and consider:
What elements of architecture in your city 
carry special meaning for you?
