New botanical sanctuary created in Assiniboine Park

'The Leaf', a 21st century plant sanctuary, opened in Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The facility, co-designed by KPMB and Architecture49, was created under an ambitious vision to celebrate Canada's cultural diversity.

The Leaf has proven its status as an eco-friendly building by obtaining LEED Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Designers said the botanical garden would capture the imagination of a new generation while promoting a deeper understanding and love of the plant world.

A hub for sustainability and nature education

According to the architects, The Leaf will go beyond being a simple plant display space and will play a key role in shaping the way the community perceives, interacts and understands nature and sustainability.

In an age where modern city dwellers are becoming increasingly distant from nature, these large-scale plant sanctuaries can become important bases for environmental education and fostering ecological sensitivity. Especially considering Canada's harsh winter climate, the value of an indoor space where you can enjoy and experience various plants throughout the four seasons is even greater.

Architectural features and design philosophy

KPMB Architectural Office is Canada's leading architectural design office and has distinguished itself in the fields of cultural facilities and public architecture. For this project, we worked with local architecture office Architecture49 to carefully reflect Winnipeg's local context and climate conditions.

Providing visitors with an immersive nature experience while faithfully following eco-friendly design principles was a key challenge for this project. LEED Gold certification means that high environmental standards have been met in many areas, including energy efficiency, water management, and material selection.