Philippe Delesalle

Philippe Delesalle’s architectural designs are nestled amongst Alberta’s Selkirk and Rocky Mountains. It seems fitting that Delesalle’s designs are located in this precipitous landscape, as he is a member of the Canadian Alpine Club and was also part of the first group of heli-skiers in Alberta. Because of his involvement with the alpine community, Delesalle was commissioned to design the Canadian Mountain Holiday’s first heli-ski lodge, the Bugaboos, in 1968. The lodge, located 180 kilometres west of Banff in the Purcell Mountains, has been renovated since then, as a growing interest in the sport required a larger lodge to accommodate the burgeoning numbers of visitors to the area.

Another one of Delesalle’s designs is the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, located on the fringe of the Bow River in Banff. Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Banff Park Pavilion created sixty years earlier, the Whyte Museum is a fine example of modern architecture. The building marries various materials including concrete, cedar, copper, and stone. While made of concrete, the structure is warm and inviting and complements the natural and breathtaking natural surroundings.