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ARTH3810 2019F Class Projects (Publication)Main MenuThe Tent Room at Rideau HallKyle Kreutner, Page 1 of 6The Webley Shacks: Unconventional Furniture Use in the Context of Ceaseless SurveillanceJose BawaganImperial Theater By Munawar MobinKeagan F - CSTM Sound HistoryIntroductionThe Mayfair TheatreSimran S.An Investigation of Hospital Interiors Effect on Patients144 Loretta Avenue North, Aidan MacNaullAidan MacNaull 144 Loretta Avenue NorthWest Block - Canada's New House of Commonsby Devon RudykRideau Street Chapel: The Effects of Relocation on the Experience of an Interiorby Ty FollisThe Church of St. Andrew's OttawaDavid Bastien-AllardMaking the Past Present: Union Station Restoration – A Political Facelift?by Vivian AstroffDelegation of the Ismali ImamatThe National Arts Centre: Reflecting on its Past and PresentSaint Paul University - A Shift in ValuesReem SiageFilm in Ottawa: The Mayfair theatreby Giovanna Maria SangCGM -An Investigation of Hospital Interiors Effect on PatientsThe Chateau LaurierBy Jessica El-GhazalReusable Space: The Senate of Canada Buildingby Syenne HolderNational Gallery of Canada - Seeing the Colonnade Through a Semiological Lens by Ricky TongRickyTHE OTTAWA STATIONEhidiamen Iyamabo, HomePageAVRC81ff8dad33b7fe77eee9a543209e890531c75438
RUD - Elevation view of West Block
1media/the-design-for-the-west-block-has-been-carefully-planned-to1-e1427232113623_thumb.jpg2019-11-29T06:29:16-08:00Devon Rudyk51f62f3e06a819bfa6c98ae9019850fa8e10a5be358161Public Services and Procurement Canada. “Restoring and Modernizing the West Block.” Canada's Parliamentary Precinct - PSPC, 3 Sept. 2019, https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct/rehabilitation/ouest-west-eng.html.plain2019-11-29T06:29:16-08:00Devon Rudyk51f62f3e06a819bfa6c98ae9019850fa8e10a5be
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12019-11-29T06:13:13-08:00RUD - Introduction7gallery2019-12-06T13:30:06-08:00Canada’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.
