Vancouver 2010 Canada Pavilion "Ugly", "Unimaginative"

The Pavilion was reportedly designed by the Chicago-based company Giltspur Exhibits, and architects are saying it is the latest in a string of dowdy pavilions erected to represent Canada at international events.

According to the National Post, architects said they felt let down by a design they condemned as an ugly, unimaginative embarrassment.

Canadian Architect magazine editor Ian Chodikoff said Canada could have created something that would better showcase the country's design talents to the world.

He said, "you could probably give that to any architect and they could do something far more delightful. It's shameful, an embarrassment and it represents to a T the current Harper (Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper) regime's concern for design, architecture and innovation in this country".

"It looks like a prefabricated building, a kit building", said Wayne De Angelis, regional director for the Province of British Columbia and the Yukon for the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

But he called the other permanent 2010 Olympic buildings "amazing".

Canada's Heritage Minister James Moore, who unveiled the building, said the pavilion "is going to be a destination for people to come and enjoy the Games, not to stand with folded arms and have an architectural experience. We can engage architects and we can spend endless amounts of money if that's what people want, but I don't think that's what taxpayers want. And frankly, I think if you compare it apples to apples with the other pavilions that are on the ground in the city of Vancouver, ours looks fantastic".