Casino Hotels

An island holds this address, and the St Lawrence River runs around all of it. Parc Jean-Drapeau surrounds the buildings with lawn, planted trees and walking paths. Montreal stands across the water and stays visible from the upper floors. There is water on every approach to the door.

The complex keeps the Expo 67 pavilion form, so the outward walls are largely glass and the river is present from inside. Upper levels look across the water to the city. Restaurants and public rooms are placed along the glazed edges. Bridges and paths tie the buildings to the park.

The glazed envelope holds off the wind that crosses open water, which is constant on an island. Deep floors keep the noise of the river traffic and the park events outside, and the roof structure sheds heavy rain away from the entrances.

Water in motion is the whole setting here, with the falls and the gorge directly below the building. The rim is planted as parkland, and the town of Niagara Falls runs up the slope behind. Trees follow the edge of the gorge. Spray rises off the water and drifts inland.

The resort is built up the slope so that its public rooms sit above the rim, and the glass on that side takes in the falls. Restaurants and the theatre foyer are placed along the same edge. Rock finishes indoors follow the colour of the gorge wall. Terraces step down toward the rim path.

Sealed glazing holds out the constant noise of falling water and the spray that carries on the wind. The building sits back far enough from the rim that the wet air stays on the outside of the envelope.

River frontage defines this address, on an arm of the Fraser at Richmond, next to Vancouver. The resort has its own marina, so boats sit directly outside. The bank is flat, built up and worked rather than wild. Beyond the water the delta stays low and open in every direction.

The building faces the water on its long side, and the rooms on that side take the river as their view. The marina brings guests to the door by boat. Public rooms and restaurants are set along the water edge. Timber and stone finishes carry the colours of the river bank inside.

The glazed river wall holds back the wind that runs along the open delta. Depth of structure keeps aircraft and road noise out of the rooms, and canopies at the marina end keep rain off the approach from the water.

Forest and lake water make up the surroundings, on Chippewas of Rama First Nation land beside Lake Couchiching. Mixed woodland runs to the edge of the parking areas and continues well past them. Open ground is kept for golf. No town stands against the property on any side.

The resort is spread low and wide so the trees stay above most of the roofline. Glazed entrances and public rooms face the cleared ground and the water beyond it. Timber finishes and local artwork carry the setting indoors. The golf course brings the open landscape right up to the buildings.

The tree line takes the force of the wind that comes off the lake. Long roofs and covered entrances keep rain and snow off the approach, and the depth of the plan keeps hall noise away from the rooms.