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• 1 2019-11-29T06:14:34-08:00 RUD - History 10 plain 2019-12-06T13:37:28-08:00 West Block is the oldest building on Parliament Hill. It was originally designed by Thomas Stent and Augustus Laver and built in 1866 in the civil gothic style. Around the same time, the United States and Britain were constructing their legislative buildings, in the Neo-Classical and Perpendicular Gothic style respectively. Canada wanted to create something unique, while still remaining connected to Britain. They chose gothic, like the parliament at Westminster, however the way the gothic style is expressed and used is distinct from the British Parliament. Canada used steep roofs and verticality, typical of northern architecture. The architects also chose to use different types of stones for various parts of the buildings. Nepean Sandstone, local to the Ottawa area, is used for the majority of the building while Ohio Sandstone was selected for the window trim and Potsdam Sandstone was chosen for other decorative features. (Kalman)
  
  West Block was originally built with three wings. The Mackenzie Wing and Tower were added in 1878, which created the courtyard space. Before the courtyard was built, the location held a garden where one could easily see the river and trees along the side of the hill. Once constructed, the courtyard became a private space where parliamentarians could enjoy the fresh air and socialize. In 2007, the federal government decided that all three buildings on Parliament Hill were in dire need of repair. Everything from the copper roof, masonry blocks, electrical systems and steel structure underneath needed to be replaced in some form. In 2011, work began on the West Block and continued until January 2019. The project was overseen and designed by Arcop and Fournier Gersovitz Moss Drolet et Associés as a joint venture. (Cook, “The Project of a Lifetime” and Hannay, “The Rehabilitation of Parliament Hill's West Block”)
  
  The German Reichstag in Berlin is one of the buildings that the architects drew ideas from when designing the covered space. The Reichstag was partially destroyed after World War Two, and was rebuilt between 1992 to 99, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Although they were reusing an old parliamentary building, the German people wanted a parliament building that reflected the feeling they were a changed nation, and that the country would not be run like it was in the past. They wanted to make the space feel more inclusive and open to the public. They decided to set the chamber at the bottom of the space and cover it with a  glass roof, to permit visitors and public to look down on those below. Norman Foster, the architect, also used mirrors to focus light down into the chamber, to give it a brighter feel. Another key decision was to not only leave the graffiti on the walls, but to highlight it so that it stands out on the stones. They understood that the building has a rich history and that an important part of the history is the time when the building was in ruin and a canvas for graffiti. (Bartlick “The Reichstag” and Films Media Group “Rebuilding The Reichstag.”)
  
  
  For West Block, the idea of preserving certain historical markings on the building was entertained when  stones in the courtyard were being cleaned. Some argued that the cigarette burns in the stones were part of the building’s ordinary history, and therefore should be left the way they are. Ultimately, it was decided that the new space should have a clean appearance, and much was invested to remove and clean or when necessary, replace 140 000 stones on the building. (Hannay, “The Rehabilitation of Parliament Hill's West Block”)