In this final installment of Brutalist Architecture: Yes, I’m done. I share what I think are brutalist-style buildings in the city. There are more, I’m sure but I’ll leave that for you to discover and share now that you know what to look for. Previous Brutalist posts were Architecture – Brutalist or Brutalism and Architecture – Brutalism Ottawa – Heritage Ottawa Tour.
Alta Vista Towers
Mostly brick construction, but I believe in the spirit.
1501 Bank Street
Bell Canada
2019 Bank Street
151 Bay Street
It has been said that though mostly brick this is Brutalist. Sometimes it’s not strictly the material but the form.
1285 Cahil Drive
Again some brick – some concrete.
1335 Carling Avenue
Molly and I’s office I would say is brutalist, not a very elaborate one but nevertless.
195 Clearview Avenue
Island Park Towers
Buildings I so admired while in High School next door that I chose to make them my first home away from home.
160 Elgin Street
I’m not entirely sure about this one, (but as i do a final with read with Molly she says – what else would it be) but I see concrete and it has a sculptural feel. In this picture you see the granite entrance which I loathed. Now it has been replaced with a glass entrance, the jury’s still out on that one. I think they should have left it alone with the 70s version of pillasters going right to the ground and the doorways in between – much more streamlined.
Hunt Club
Can a wall be in the brutalist style?
Industrial Avenue
The Main Post Office again a combination of brick and concrete is quite sculptural.
381 Kent Street
Love this!
400 Laurier Avenue East
Again brick and concrete.
170 Laurier Avenue West
Brutalist, a bit like 1335 Carling. Perhaps the same architect.
360 Laurier Avenue West
365 Laurier Avenue West
500-530 Laurier Avenue West
Queen Elizabeth Towers
388 Main Street
The Cuban Embasssy
413 March Road
447 March Road
158 McArthur Avenue
I’d say these 3 towers are brutalist.
MacArthur Avenue
Place Vanier
Definitely, too bad these needed to be painted, not a fan of painted concrete
Pretoria Avenue
Pretoria Avenue
305 Rideau Street
305 Rideau Street
450 Rideau Street
Good one!
Riverside Drive
Another good one!
Sir John Carling Building
Recently demolished – loved this building
65 University Private
The Morisette Library
Stunning!
1741 Woodward Avenue
Woodward
141 Somerset Street West
265 Poulin Avenue
Northwest One
David McClure says
I can learn to like these examples of this type of architecture. I live just south of Place Vanier on North River Road and pass it every day, so I guess that I’ve grown accustomed to the style.
Patrick Murray says
Agreed Morrisette Library is superb – oddly, another library in Ottawa the public one, nestled into the Sir Richard Scott building, is another fine example of the style. Thanks for putting this out there.
Claude Jobin says
I agree with you on both counts!