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• 1 2019-11-29T06:13:13-08:00 RUD - Introduction 7 gallery 2019-12-06T13:30:06-08:00 Canada’s West Block was constructed more than one hundred years ago to support the work of the Government of Canada, though recently, the building has assumed a more central role in Canadian politics. This comes after  Center Block was closed for much needed renovations; a project that will likely take more than a decade to complete. During this period of renovation and restoration, Center Block will be closed and will no longer be the home of Canada’s Parliament. The main occupants of Centre Block, The House of Commons and The Senate both had to be relocated.  The Senate has been moved to the former Union Train Station which underwent a major renovation.  The House of Commons has been relocated to the West Block courtyard. To make this possible, West Block had to go through a thorough modernization project, which included installing a roof over the courtyard and adding a visitor’s center for improved public access. (Public Services and Procurement Canada)
  
  The courtyard itself was chosen because of its location close to Center Block and the large amount of space at the architect’s disposal. By adding a roof over the courtyard, the amount of useable space in the building more than doubled. The roof also removes the seasonality of the courtyard. In the harsh Canadian climate, outdoor courtyards are only useable during the summer and parts of the spring and fall. With the addition of a roof, the courtyard can provide year-round access. The new chamber now houses the ‘seats’ for members of parliament; a public gallery and a dedicated area for journalists and media. In the figure above, the new layout can be seen in use. The chamber sits at the center of the space, just below the public and media viewing gallery. The masonry façade and green copper roof of the old court yard are still visible from the chamber within. The most noticeable new feature is the glass roof and the steel supports that hold up the roof. (Ottawa Citizen, “West Block's House of Commons”)
  
  This new House of Commons is an immense step forward for Canadian politics. The design draws on features of other notable parliaments and courtyards such as the German Reichstag and British Museum, while also maintaining the original symbolism of Canadian and British parliament. Some people have expressed hope that the new location will translate into a positive change within the house. The idea behind this is that parliamentarians will be more mindful of those that have come before them and the future generations that will be affected by their decisions. 
   
• 1 2019-11-29T06:16:03-08:00 RUD - More Courtyards 4 plain 2019-12-06T13:45:48-08:00 Another inspiration for the courtyard at West Block was the courtyard found at the British Museum in London, England. It was originally built to provide easier circulation for the increasing number of tourists visiting the museum each year. Like West Block, it provides visitors with many of the benefits of an opened courtyard, such as natural light and a connection to nature (in this case the natural stone on the building)(Foster, 4-91). Courtyards were originally designed as a space within a residence where occupants would enjoy the benefits of being outdoors, while also having the privacy and seclusion of being in their own home. For the House of Commons, the illusion of nature is fostered by the green carpet, steel “trees,” bright light and natural stone and wood used on the walls. The hope is that the same health and psychological benefits gained from spending time in an open courtyard will also be acquired here, thereby positively influencing the members of parliament within. ((Ottawa Citizen, “West Block's House of Commons”)
  
  Considering that Canada is a relatively young country with a very cold climate,  courtyards are not as popular as they are in Europe, Asia or the Middle East. However, several courtyards can be found in the older parts of Canadian cities.. These tend not to be located in the center of a single building, but rather are formed when four or more building enclose a space behind them, as seen in the figure above. In Ottawa, several courtyards of this type  can be found in the Byward Market. (Khalili, 2–87)
  
  With the increasing awareness of climate change, cities have started building up rather than out, a practise known as densifying. Common techniques include building taller structures, giving old buildings new uses and filling in parking lots or courtyards with liveable spaces. In Europe, it is very common to find a courtyard or street that is covered to protect pedestrians from the wind or rain. Some buildings such as the British Museum have sealed off the courtyard completely and climatized the space within. In Canada, there are far fewer covered courtyards and walkways. Perhaps it is due to the shortage of courtyards to begin with, or the difficulty and cost in designing structures to meet the demand of Canadian winters. The attention that has been drawn to the  West Block courtyard after it was covered and converted into a space to hold the House of Commons may inspire more Canadian cities to attempt a similar project.