Accessible only by boat, West Bamfield presently has no public gathering space. Our team of 12 students was tasked with designing a pavilion and landscape that would serve the needs of community members as well as be a point of interest for tourists who visit regularly in the summer months.

Both the pavilion and the landscape are oriented to channel views to the forest in the North and to the spectacular vista of Trevor Channel in the West. The pavilion offers a flexible gathering space away from the abundant rainfall and gusty winds. Polycarbonate walls provide light even on the dreariest of days, and the south elevation sports large sliding doors which can be opened toward the adjacent field when the weather is nice.

The landscape honors the site’s original intention as an area for children by incorporating custom play elements. A swing set and log tangle near the pavilion and field provide a space for small children to frolic under the watchful eyes of parents. Elements placed in the forest build upon existing DIY structures assembled by local teens and offer a more private area for older children to socialize. The landscape surrounding the pavilion remains streamlined. A gravel path leads from the site’s main entrance to the pavilion and is flanked by lumber retaining walls that “cut” across a large mound, creating a channel through which visitors are drawn to the building.

The design considers Bamfield’s local ecologies by utilizing timber selectively harvested from the community forest. Both the pavilion and the landscape can be built by community members, many of whom we had the pleasure of meeting on our 3-day site visit. The design development was well received by the Bamfield Parks Commission and the team is now in the process of attaining funding for construction.