I quite like this article written by Peter Coffman, Architectural historian at Carleton University. So much better than Allan Teramura‘s opinion. (unfortunately the current president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada) who seems to have a dim view of Ottawa and its residents.

Coffman talks about community, architectural language, and sensitivity of the building. In his opinion the currently proposed and subsequently revised addition to the Chateau Laurier are a few lines of hip-hop added to a Shakesperean love sonet. He says the first proposal was a mutilation and the subsequent revision a slighly less gross mutilation.

Interesting but wrong to me is this version which proposes a 4th side done exactly in the same style. I’d like it if it had been done so 100 years ago but I don’t believe in 2016 we should mimic architecture from 1912; artists might as well paint the style of the Mona Lisa while there at it.

These are the revised drawings to the Chateau Laurier expansion. There is no difference is design only scale. They must have just shrank the back half of the photo and said there done. I must say I still haven`t digested Samuel Oboh President of RAIC`s comment that Ottawa cannot appreciate modern architecture. I`d like to think we can! But in this instance adding an expansion to one of the most iconic buildings downtown – we`re concerned.

When I did a walking tour of Chicago Architecture oh so many years ago a word I remember was dialogue. New buildings were added to the city-scape and there was dialogue with another existing building. That is there was some sort of echo a leitmotiv. Here some examples of additions which I think are successful.