The Beth Israel Synagogue Interpretive Centre  

“The Permeable Canopy”

The Beth Israel Synagogue is embedded within the landscape of the boreal transition zone in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Canada. The interpretive centre developed for this architectural heritage, which no longer functions as a Synagogue, was inspired by the transition of the property into a wildlife habitat. Donated in November 1987 by the Beth Israel Synagogue to the Wildlife Federation’s “Habitat Trust Fund”, the property is now managed by the organization. Therefore, the design of the small interpretive centre that functions primarily in the long summer days is an open air minimal intervention on the site. In order to connect the history of the site to its present day use, an interpretive pavilion was designed to inform the visitors of the life story of the Jewish community who immigrated to Edenbridge. This creates a contrast for the visitors who spend the first half of their experience outside in the elements, only protected by the trees and the butterfly roof pavilion, before getting to experience the protective stillness of the interior of the Synagogue. The curved rammed earth wall creates a sense of curiosity and the wooden panels connect the materiality of the interior red cedar of the synagogue to the pavilion highlighting the importance of the material to the visitors. The permeable canopy directly behind the Synagogue uses circulation, and form to create a light filled open-air interpretive centre for the Beth Israel Synagogue and the wooded plot of land it is a part of.