Description of Historic Place

Located in downtown Banff, in the Cascades of Time Garden, Devonian Pavilion sits at the northwest corner of the garden adjacent to the Devonian Pool. It is a small, log, octagonal gazebo that is covered by a turret roof and uses natural materials for its simple detailing and decorative elements. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Devonian Pavilion is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The development of the Devonian Pavilion is a very good example associated with the completion of Banff National Park’s administrative center, inclusive of the main Administration Building and the Cascades of Time Garden. The construction was part of an effort to attract international tourism to Banff National Park and is closely associated with this intense period of development, and an increase in visitation. It was also part of the Department of Labour’s Relief Act of 1933, whereby unemployed relief workers were employed to build the pavilion.

Architectural Value
The Devonian Pavilion is a very good example of rustic design within the national parks program, and is characteristic of architect, Harold C. Beckett’s work set within the realm of landscape design. As a garden pavilion, its rustic form and detailing represent a picturesque aesthetic consistent with the park’s tradition. It is constructed of local natural materials that blend in with the mountainous surroundings and the garden’s English Picturesque landscape that includes deliberately irregular pools, flagstone walkways and planted clumps of trees.

The Environmental Value
As part of the Cascades of Time Garden, the Devonian Pavilion sits at the northwest corner of the garden adjacent to the Devonian Pool, which gives it a visual prominence and provides a viewing point to the Cambrian Pavilion. Its natural flagstone walkway and contrasting rubble stone terraces complete the site. Its rustic form and detailing of natural materials reinforce the picturesque character of the established garden setting. A key element of the larger site development, Devonian Pavilion is a familiar landmark to the townsite’s residents.

Source: Devonian Pavilion, Banff National Park, Banff, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement, 97-011.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of Devonian Pavilion should be respected.

Its rustic style and very good quality materials and craftsmanship such as:
- its simple massing of an octagonal plan covered by a turret roof with overhanging eaves;
- its uniform elevations that consists of side walls finished with shakes laid in staggered lines, a single tall arched opening in each face and the head of the arch straight with the angles splayed;
- its field stone basement;
- its bull-nose corner beads applied at the inside and outside angles of all openings;
- its decorative railings, each of a unique design;
- its roof finish of hand-split cedar shakes, an upturned stump as a finial and a common lap or close hip treatment of the hip-ridges;
- its interior features of exposed roof framing, the exposed peeled pole laths carrying the shakes, the acorn ornament worked on the termination of the center post, the flag stone floor and the burl specimens utilized for the tie beams and bench legs.
The manner in which the Devonian Pavilion reinforces the picturesque character of its established garden setting at The Cascade of Time Garden.